Rivalry Peril - How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy

How the U.S. policy of competition with China is detrimental to democracy, peace, and prosperity—and how a saner approach is possible
 
For close to a decade, the U.S. government has been preoccupied with the threat of China, fearing that the country will “eat our lunch,” in the words of Joe Biden. The United States has crafted its foreign and domestic policy to help constrain China’s military power and economic growth. Van Jackson and Michael Brenes argue that great-power competition with China is misguided and vastly underestimates the costs and risks that geopolitical rivalry poses to economic prosperity, the quality of democracy, and, ultimately, global stability.
 
This in-depth assessment of the trade-offs and pitfalls of protracted competition with China reveals how such a policy exacerbates inequality, leads to xenophobia, and increases the likelihood of violence around the world. In addition, it distracts from the priority of addressing such issues as climate change while at the same time undercutting democratic pluralism and sacrificing liberty in the name of prevailing against an enemy “other.” Jackson and Brenes provide an informed and urgent critique of current U.S. foreign policy and a road map toward a saner, more democratically accountable strategy of easing tension and achieving effective diplomacy.

About the author

Van Jackson is a senior lecturer in international relations at Victoria University of Wellington and a senior nonresident fellow at the Center for International Policy. He lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Michael Brenes is the co-director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy and lecturer in history at Yale University, and a senior nonresident fellow at the Center for International Policy. He lives in Hamden, CT.

Product details

• Authors: Michael Brenes, Van Jackson, Van Brenes Jackson, Jackson Van
• Publisher: Yale University Press Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 15.04.2025
• EAN: 9780300272895
• ISBN: 978-0-300-27289-5
• No. of pages: 248
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; USA, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Security (National & International), HISTORY / United States / 21st Century, POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Diplomacy, 21st Century, 21st century history: from c 2000 -, 21st century, c 2000 to c 2100, Warfare & defence, Diplomacy, United States of America, USA, Warfare and defence, History of the Americas