A New Cold War: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West
by David Sanger
Penguin Random House, 2024
David Sanger’s new book offers a timely analysis of new challenges to U.S. foreign policy, framing contemporary tensions with China and Russia as a reincarnation of Cold War dynamics. Sanger brings a wealth of journalistic experience and insider knowledge to his analysis, but his reliance on Cold War metaphors oversimplifies the complexities of the current global environment.
in new cold warSanger agrees with scholars such as Hal Brands and Niall Ferguson who suggest that U.S. foreign policy should be based on a Cold War framework to deal with China’s growing influence and the resurgence of Russian aggression. Sanger draws parallels between the original Cold War and today’s geopolitical environment by pointing out familiar themes: the decline of globalization, the rise of nationalism, the resurgence of proxy wars, and the rise of nuclear threats. His claims are backed up by surprising statistics. He cited former CIA Director Robert Gates, who warned that nuclear weapons from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran could soon double America’s stockpile.
Central to Sanger’s analysis is the proposition that the United States is engaging in a new kind of Cold War, defined by a more dangerous and multifaceted global competition. This is not the bipolar contest between democracy and communism that shaped the 20th century, but a struggle that pits America against two enemies with different but overlapping strategic goals. As Sanger points out, China has become increasingly active in the South China Sea and global economic activity, while Russia has pursued military aggression through its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In Sanger’s view, this confrontation is reminiscent of the flashpoints of the Cold War, in which American power was increasingly challenged on multiple fronts.
However, while Sanger provides an insightful critique of the current state of American foreign relations, his framework does not fully capture the complexities of contemporary world politics. One of the key differences between today and the Cold War is the nature of alliances. The rigid ideological blocs that defined the Cold War have given way to much more fluid and pragmatic relationships. China and Russia may be strategic partners, but their partnership is not driven by a shared ideological commitment to rebuilding the world order in their image. Rather, their cooperation reflects mutual interests, especially in countering Western domination. Likewise, alliances with countries like Iran or North Korea stem from practical concerns rather than Cold War-era ideological solidarity.
Sanger sometimes acknowledges these nuances, acknowledging that the competition between the United States and its adversaries is more complex than the ideological confrontations of the Cold War. For example, he cites the White House’s view that U.S. support for Ukraine is more similar to support for Britain during World War II than to Cold War-era conditions. However, despite this recognition, Sanger often defaults to a Cold War framework that limits the analytical depth of his work.
In addition to oversimplifying global dynamics, Sanger’s book underestimates the growing importance of economic and technological competition. Today’s great power competition is not only about military power, but also about technological superiority, especially in areas such as semiconductors, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Sanger addresses these topics, particularly in his discussion of cybersecurity, but still focuses on traditional military and geopolitical competition.
That said, Sanger offers a series of thoughtful policy prescriptions to address these problems. He advocates a rational strategy that includes dividing Russia and China, renewing NATO’s strength, investing in cybersecurity, and avoiding unnecessary provocations with China over tariffs and sanctions. These recommendations are based on practical concerns and do not necessarily rely on a Cold War-era framework to be effective.
In the end, while new cold war Although the book is interesting and informative, especially for those interested in U.S. foreign policy, it is limited by its reliance on Cold War analogies. Sanger’s vivid journalistic storytelling brings important details to the surface, but the framework he uses is insufficient to understand the multidimensional power struggles that shape today’s world. As the global order evolves into a more multipolar system dominated by complex interdependencies and pragmatic alliances, the binary Cold War metaphor looks increasingly inadequate. Sanger’s analysis captures the stakes of the present moment, but it fails to provide a new conceptual vocabulary with which to explore the challenges of the twenty-first century.
as a result, new cold war While it provides important insights into the strategic dilemmas facing the United States today, it ultimately oversimplifies the nature of modern geopolitics. The rise of China and the resurgence of Russia undoubtedly pose serious threats, but characterizing these challenges as a ‘new Cold War’ underestimates the fluid, multipolar and multifaceted nature of modern geopolitics. For policymakers and scholars alike, more nuanced frameworks will be needed to address the complexities of today’s international system.
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