Ideas change everything

Is war between China and the US inevitable?

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Graham Allison |

We the Future

• September 2018

Taking lessons from a historical pattern called "Thucydides's Trap," political scientist Graham Allison shows why a rising China and a dominant United States could be headed towards a violent collision no one wants -- and how we can summon the common sense and courage to avoid it.

Taking lessons from a historical pattern called "Thucydides's Trap," political scientist Graham Allison shows why a rising China and a dominant United States could be headed towards a violent collision no one wants -- and how we can summon the common sense and courage to avoid it.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

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About the speaker

Political scientist, professor

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Graham Allison is a leading analyst of US national security and defense policy with a special interest in China, nuclear weapons and decision-making.

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Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?

Graham T. Allison | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2017)

Graham T. Allison - *Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?*

"We the Future: Talks from TED, Skoll Foundation and United Nations Foundation"

At "We the Future," a day of talks at the TED World Theater presented in collaboration with the Skoll Foundation and the United Nations Foundation, 13 speakers and two performers explored some of our most difficult collective challenges — as well as emerging solutions and strategies for building bridges and dialogue.

null - "We the Future: Talks from TED, Skoll Foundation and United Nations Foundation"

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.