Destined For War

Will the two most powerful nations on Earth inevitably go to war? Understand the historical pattern that predicts conflict when a rising power threatens a ruling one, and learn why the US-China relationship is a terrifying modern example of this "Thucydides's Trap." You'll discover the 16 historical case studies that prove this dangerous dynamic, with 12 ending in catastrophic war. Graham Allison reveals the specific economic, political, and cultural flashpoints pushing America and China toward the brink and outlines the difficult, narrow paths to avoiding a global disaster.

Graham Allison is the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at Harvard University, where he was the founding dean of the modern John F. Kennedy School of Government. His extensive experience as Assistant Secretary of Defense under two presidents provides a rare, insider’s perspective on high-stakes international relations. Allison has spent decades advising U.S. defense policy, giving him unparalleled insight into the historical power dynamics explored in Destined for War and the critical challenge facing America and China today.