Lessons from the New Cold War

How the US-China rivalry is reshaping global power, democracy, and the international order.

A new cold war is unfolding—one that will define the future of the international order. In Lessons from the New Cold War, editor Hal Brands assembles an all-star cast of the most influential thinkers in foreign policy, defense strategy, technology, and economics to grapple with the defining geopolitical rivalry of our time: the competition between the United States and China.

Over the past decade, Washington has placed its contest with Beijing at the center of its national strategy, forging a rare consensus across the political spectrum. But as this global confrontation intensifies—across supply chains, the Taiwan Strait, and cyberspace—key questions remain. Where is America succeeding? Where is it falling short? And how can it prepare for what lies ahead? Through a sweeping analysis that spans cutting-edge technology, economic decoupling, and military strategy, this book explores the multilayered nature of the conflict.

Contributors examine China's assertive economic statecraft and its ambitions for a new global order, the shifting nuclear balance and the intelligence war, the complex web of Indo-Pacific alliances, and the ideological struggle over democracy and authoritarianism. Covering vital topics like semiconductor supremacy, democracy's durability, India's strategic role, and the future of US leadership, this incisive collection offers an unflinching assessment of the New Cold War's stakes—and a roadmap for navigating its challenges. Essential reading for policymakers, scholars, and anyone concerned with the global balance of power, it is a vital guide to a rivalry that is reshaping the twenty-first century.