Past Event

New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West

For years the United States was confident that a newly democratic Russia and an increasingly wealthy China would be lured into a Western-led order that promised peace and prosperity—so long as they agreed to Washington's terms. By the time America emerged from 20 years of counterterrorism, it was clear that this was a fantasy. Now the three powers are engaged in a high-stakes struggle for military, economic, political and technological supremacy that seems likely to stretch on for decades.

Pulitzer-prize winning journalist David Sanger—a Distinguished Wilson Center scholar—and Wilson Public Policy Fellow Mary K. Brooks have written an insider account of what happened as five presidents grappled with these new realities. New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion and America's Struggle to Defend the West moves rapidly through 30 years of Washington's dawning awareness of Vladimir Putin's and Xi Jinping's ambitions, culminating in the Biden administration's efforts to contain China's technological progress and push back on Russia's invasion—and its nuclear threats.

Speakers

Hosted By

Global Europe Program

The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe’s capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe’s relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include “Ukraine in Europe”—an examination of what it will take to make Ukraine’s European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe’s energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program’s staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media.   Read more

Global Europe Program

History and Public Policy Program

A global leader in making key archival records accessible and fostering informed analysis, discussion, and debate on foreign policy, past and present.   Read more

History and Public Policy Program

Kennan Institute

The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange.   Read more

Kennan Institute

Kissinger Institute on China and the United States

The Kissinger Institute works to ensure that China policy serves American long-term interests and is founded in understanding of historical and cultural factors in bilateral relations and in accurate assessment of the aspirations of China’s government and people.   Read more

Kissinger Institute on China and the United States