Destined for War

Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?

By: Graham Allison

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

War with China is much more likely than anyone thinks.

When Athens went to war with Sparta some 2,500 years ago, the Greek historian Thucydides identified one simple cause: A rising power threatened to displace a ruling one. As the eminent Harvard scholar Graham Allison explains, in the past 500 years, great powers have found themselves in "Thucydides's Trap" 16 times. In 12 of the 16 - from war between the French and the Habsburgs in the 16th century to the two world wars of the 20th - the results have been catastrophic. Today, the same structural forces propel China and the United States toward a cataclysm of unseen proportions, even as both sides insist that such a war could never occur.

In Destined for War, Allison compares the US-China conflict to its closest parallel: World War I. There, a rising Germany threatened the supremacy of the British Empire. He sketches several scenarios in which America and China might slide, against their intent and better judgment, into a similar conflict. But he also examines the rare instances when two clashing powers have avoided disaster. Can our current standoff be one of those exceptions? Allison's answer is essential listening for our age and ages to come.

©2017 Graham Allison (P)2017 Recorded Books

Great place to start-

the basic theory of the ...trap gives the reader a lot of food for thought

Will listen again

Great insights, comparisons, enough backstory to fully understand the strategic narrative and tactical elements.

If you’ve 100 Year Marathon, this is a must listen. Greater scope, less fear mongering, and more world history rich.

Narrator was great IMO

Terrific read, a must

For anyone interested in relations between the US and China, read this book. Educates you and makes you think.

Learned a ton

I will never look at the US china, cool war, or WWII dynamics in the same way again. great book

insightful and visionary

This is the best book so far I have read/listened about Sino-US relationship. It is both insightful and visionary. It show a great balance of intellect and wisdom. A solid five star. I hope more people can read/listen to this book for better future of the nations.

Most important book on international relations

This book explains clearly why managing US-China relations is the most important and challenging task of this era of international relations. Written clearly and presented with appropriate gravitas, Allison demonstrates why he remains in the premier league of analysts.

Theoretically fundamental, but not inevitable nor statistically sound.

You can’t debate the human and evolutionary dynamics of the trap leading to conflict. One can seen in nature every day. The trap is real. The real question is are the participants situationally aware enough to avoid war. One that note the book is a good review of the trap’s mechanisms, using history’s great examples.

Great insight!

This is an excellent book for students of military history or international affairs. Graham Allison does not argue that war with China is inevitable and presents cases that counter Thucydides's Trap. History does show that war is likely if leaders of both nations don't make smart decisions that will allow the nations to avoid a direct military conflict. He does describe the key points of the Peloponnesian War so a knowledge of Thucydides is not a prerequisite for reading or listening to this book.

Well Done

A great work that has shed light into a number of shadowy corners of today and yesterday.

Excellent content and narration

Excellent audiobook especially in light of the year long Russian and Ukraine conflict today. Also, US unwarranted military ⚔ threats against China. Sounds like China is Athens and US is Sparta.