Center for Preventive Action

Managing Global Disorder

Project Expert

Paul B. Stares
Paul B. Stares

General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action

About the Project

Increasing geopolitical friction between the United States and other major powers—including China, the European Union, India, and Russia—not only increases the risk of major war but also lessens the likelihood that other sources of instability and conflict can be effectively managed. The Center for Preventive Action convenes international workshops and publishes discussion papers on how the United States can best manage the growing risk of a more disorderly world.

This project is made possible by the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Events

Wars and Conflict

In a new paper for the Managing Global Disorder Discussion Paper series, Tanvi Madan argues that the intensifying competition in South Asia and the Indian Ocean between the United States and China and between China and India has profound implications for future peace and security in the region. Speakers discuss how the United States can manage and shape rivalries among major powers in South Asia while pursuing and defending its regional interests. This roundtable is made possible by the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

U.S. Foreign Policy

Although major power competition on the African continent is a reality, it should not dominate the Biden administration’s vision for U.S.-Africa relations, argues Michelle Gavin in her new paper Major Power Rivalry in Africa, for the Managing Global Disorder Discussion Paper series. Speakers discuss how the Biden administration can pursue strategic partnerships that align African aspirations and U.S. interests while managing competition with China.

China

To avoid a costly and potentially dangerous arms race with China and Russia, the United States should consider new and creative approaches to strategic arms control. A new paper, “The Future of Strategic Arms Control,” for the Managing Global Disorder series explains how this expanded conception can enhance strategic stability. American, Chinese, and Russian experts discuss how the major powers can pursue effective arms control in the future amid growing mistrust and animosity.

China

The risks of conflict between the United States and China are real and growing. This situation has left the U.S.-China relationship in a precarious place that will require delicate diplomacy in order to manage intensifying competition while preventing conflict. Panelists discuss “Major Power Rivalry in East Asia,” a paper by Evan S. Medeiros in the Managing Global Disorder discussion paper series, on how U.S. and Chinese policymakers should revitalize existing tools and build new ones to manage an increasingly militarized competition. Additional Resources For further reading, please see CPA's Managing Global Disorder series.

Middle East and North Africa

Even as the United States debates its role in the Middle East, it still retains significant power and influence in the region. With intensifying great power competition, however, regional dynamics and the prospects for preventing, containing, and mitigating conflicts are shifting. Panelists discuss these topics and possible avenues for cooperation among the major powers. Additional Resources For further reading, please see the CFR discussion paper, "Major Power Rivalry in the Middle East" by Steven A. Cook.

India

In this video of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Center for Preventive Action Roundtable Series on Managing Global Disorder, Qingguo Jia, Peking University, and Dhruva Jaishankar, Observer Research Foundation, discuss what the post-pandemic world may look like.

Europe and Eurasia

The COVID-19 pandemic has already sparked considerable debate over how the present international order could change as a consequence. Some commentators see the world growing more fragmented and disorderly while others believe this moment will give new impetus to international cooperation on a variety of global challenges. Speakers Andrey Kortunov, Russian International Affairs Council, and Nathalie Tocci, Istituto di Affari Internazionali, discuss what the post-pandemic world may look like. For further reading, please see the CFR discussion paper, "Perspectives on a Changing World Order," by Dhruva Jaishankar, Qingguo Jia, Andrey Kortunov, Paul Stares, and Nathalie Tocci.

Blogs

Middle East and North Africa

Although deep disconnects plague current transatlantic cooperation in the Middle East, the United States and Europe still share a common interest in stabilizing this volatile region.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite a rift in the relationship, the United States could work with Europe to help African states achieve their peace and security goals. 

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