Clash Of Powers

One of the first analyses of the impact of US-China rivalry on the governance of global trade.

"This book analyzes the impact of a rising China on global trade governance. There is considerable debate about the extent and significance of China's rise. Are we in the process of a hegemonic transition, or does the US maintain its dominance? Can the existing US-led system of global economic governance adapt to the rise of China? I argue that regardless of whether or not China will ever overtake the US as hegemon, the rise of China has already proven highly destabilizing for the system of global trade governance created under US hegemony. Even if the US maintains a preponderance of power in the international system, its capacity to direct and steer global trade governance - which until now has been a defining feature of its hegemony - has been severely diminished. China's ascent has substantially weakened American control over the institutions and rules governing global trade. The US and China are engaged in a battle to set the rules of global economic competition; each wants its own interests and preferences to be inscribed in the institutions and laws governing global trade. As this book shows, the growing rivalry between these two dominant powers has paralyzed global trade governance and rule-making"--

The classic study of post-Cold War international relations, more relevant than ever in today’s geopolitical climate—with a foreword by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Since its initial publication in 1996, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order has become one of the most influential books ever written about foreign affairs. Samuel Huntington explains how clashes between civilizations pose the greatest threat to world peace, but also how an international order based on civilizations is the best safeguard against war. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order explains how the population explosion in Muslim countries and the economic rise of East Asia have changed global politics. These developments challenge Western dominance, promote opposition to supposedly “universal” Western ideals, and intensify inter-civilization conflict over such issues as nuclear proliferation, immigration, human rights, and democracy. In his incisive analysis, Huntington offers a strategy for the West to preserve its unique culture and emphasizes the need for people everywhere to learn to coexist in a complex, multipolar, multi-civilizational world.

In this masterful, stylish, and authoritative book, Michael Burleigh gives us an epic history of the battles over religion in modern Europe, examining the complex and often lethal ways in which politics and religion have interacted and influenced each other over the last two centuries. From the French Revolution to the totalitarian movements of the twentieth century, Earthly Powers is a uniquely powerful portrait of one of the great tensions of modern history—one that continues to be played out on the world stage today.

Like the Roman Empire, today's governments or organizations can become centered on power and believe their messages are the "good news." As Christians, we're called to proclaim God’s name in all the earth (1 Chronicles 16:8), but how do we to do that in the midst of false gospels? In this fifteenth volume of That The World May Know®, discover how Paul communicated the Good News of Christ to Philippi, a Roman colony that worshipped false gods. Can you live the message as Paul did while he encouraged the church in Philippi to consider itself a colony of heaven, not Rome? Consider your citizenship—and the message you convey to the world—as Ray Vander Laan takes you deeper into the culture of ancient Philippi. Experience the Bible in historical context, as you walk in the footsteps of the second missionary tour of the Apostle Paul in Greece—in locations like Philippi, Thessaloniki, and Delphi.

"Out in the Pacific Ocean, there is a war taking place. It is a 'warm war,' a shoving match between the United States, since WWII the uncontested ruler of the seas, and China, which now possesses the world's largest navy. The Chinese regard the Pacific, and especially the South China Sea, as their ocean, and they're ready to defend it. Each day the heat between the two countries increases as the Chinese try to claim the South China Sea for their own, and the United States insists on asserting freedom of navigation"

The Improbable War explains why conflict between the USA and China cannot be ruled out. In 1914 war between the Great Powers was considered unlikely, yet it happened. We learn only from history, and popular though the First World War analogy is, the lessons we draw from its outbreak are usually mistaken. Among these errors is the tendency to over-estimate human rationality. All major conflicts of the past 300 years have been about the norms and rules of the international system. In China and the US the world confronts two 'exceptional' powers whose values differ markedly, with China bidding to challenge the current order. The 'Thucydidean Trap' - when a conservative status quo power confronts a rising new one - may also play its part in precipitating hostilities. To avoid stumbling into an avoidable war both Beijing and Washington need a coherent strategy, which neither of them has. History also reveals that war evolves continually. The next global conflict is likely to be played out in cyberspace and outer space and like all previous wars it will have devastating consequences. Such a war between the United States and China may seem improbable, but it is all too possible, which is why we need to discuss it now.