A New Era of Great Power Competition, With Hal Brands

Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger distinguished professor of global affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what lessons the United States can draw from the Cold War for understanding our new era of great power rivalry.

Play Button Pause Button
0:00 0:00
x
Host
  • James M. Lindsay
    Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs
Episode Guests
  • Hal Brands
    Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

Show Notes

Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger distinguished professor of global affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what lessons the United States can draw from the Cold War for understanding our new era of great power rivalry.

 

Books Mentioned on the Podcast 

 

Hal Brands, The Twilight Struggle: What the Cold War Teaches Us about Great-Power Rivalry Today (2022) 

 

Articles Mentioned on the Podcast 

 

Hal Brands, “Containment Can Work Against China, Too,” Wall Street Journal, December 3, 2021 

 

Hal Brands, “The Overstretched Superpower,” Foreign Affairs, January 18, 2022 

 

Richard Fontaine, “Washington’s Missing China Strategy,” Foreign Affairs, January 14, 2022 

 

“X” (George Kennan), “The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” Foreign Affairs (July 1947) 

Grand Strategy

Edward Luce, U.S. national editor and a columnist for the Financial Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what we can learn from the life, career, and writings of Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter.

South China Sea

Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at RAND and professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the confrontations between China and the Philippines over their competing claims in the South China Sea and the consequences for the United States.

South Africa

Reuben Brigety, President of Busara Advisors and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa from 2022 to 2025, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss relations between Washington and Pretoria in the wake of last week’s meeting between President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Top Stories on CFR

Immigration and Migration

The White House’s latest travel ban imposes restrictions on citizens from nineteen countries. Many of those affected are contending with crises at home.

United States

America’s oldest military service turns 250 on Saturday. If you see an active duty, former, or retired member of the Army, wish their service a happy birthday.

Economics

There is too much talk about the dollar’s role as a reserve currency and too little talk about expectations of exceptional returns. Reserve accumulation hasn’t driven the financing of the U.S. current account deficit in recent years.