The Long Game

China's Grand Strategy to Displace American Order

By: Rush Doshi

Narrated by: Kyle Tait

In The Long Game, Rush Doshi draws from a rich base of Chinese primary sources, including decades worth of party documents, leaked materials, memoirs by party leaders, and a careful analysis of China's conduct to provide a history of China's grand strategy since the end of the Cold War.

Taking listeners behind the Party's closed doors, he uncovers Beijing's long, methodical game to displace America from its hegemonic position in both the East Asia regional and global orders through three sequential "strategies of displacement." Beginning in the 1980s, China focused for two decades on "hiding capabilities and biding time." After the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, it became more assertive regionally, following a policy of "actively accomplishing something." Finally, in the aftermath populist elections of 2016, China shifted to an even more aggressive strategy for undermining US hegemony, adopting the phrase "great changes unseen in century."

After charting how China's long game has evolved, Doshi offers a comprehensive yet asymmetric plan for an effective US response. Ironically, his proposed approach takes a page from Beijing's own strategic playbook to undermine China's ambitions and strengthen American order without competing dollar-for-dollar, ship-for-ship, or loan-for-loan.

©2021 Rush Doshi (P)2022 Kalorama

well researched and solid thesis, if a bit dry

a lot of good stuff here. but also fairly dry for several chapters. I skipped probably like 15% of the book as I felt like I understood the gist of the argument and didn't need the further detail. but still very worth a read or skim if you want to have a better framework for viewing china's history and future actions.

comprehensive, somewhat repetitive, good reading

A comprehensive examination of China's strategy against the United States and its allies. This book, while frequently repetitive, lays out a compelling framework, drawing on a wide array of official documents (mostly in Chinese) and many that are not publicly available to present analysis of China's behaviours and their integration into its grand strategy.

Much of the analysis was fascinating, insightful, and provided a new perspective that was not based on a small number of but compelling data points.

The author's conclusion on engaging with China is particularly clear, in the context of neither accommodating nor changing her, and thus a strategic competition is required. The author proposes that the US take an asymmetric approach to blunt China's ascendancy, which is consistent with Kevin Rudd's own assessment and suggestions on 'geo strategic competition.'

No Trust China

Amazingly researched. Learned so much. Recommend to every American if we can get them off their TikTok.

A methodical look at the strategic moves of both the US & Chinese state craft to reshape the 21st century.

I appreciated the author's structure and ability to clarify points that are often mistaken or missed by the general public conversation around China and US relations.

what a book

I can't even imagine the extent of research and preparation that has gone into this book

It's so thorough and detailed, that I needed breaks while listening to it

Unfortunately often repetitive

Also, the narrator pronounced Chinese names as bad as it gets

very, very impressive

eyeopener

clear precise, sometimes repetitive but to the point... There is and always have been a long run strategy for comunist China; just wait and see, ukranian war is nothing but research for China and it's next objectives

100 pages too long

The argument is well constructed but the book is too long. Author hits his points so heavily that you can get bored and ready for him to move on. For example, he quotes leaders saying assissins mace for several pages. One time with stats would have been enough. The three phase argument is very helpful to understand the policy evolution. The story about the ukrainian carrier was also fascinating.

Mixed feelings…

The overall content of the book is quite interesting and well-documented.

The production of the audiobook is disappointing. Apart from the monotonous « lecture », it’s unbelievable to launch a 18h audible about the Chinese Communist Party with the reader mispronouncing the name of 3 of the 5 chairmen.

It’s Xi JinpING not JinpIEN.
Deng XiaopING not XiaopIEN.
Jiang ZIming not JUming.

fresh perspective, grand strategic view

Over the past few weeks, I've read The Hundred Year Marathon (by a retired senior spy), The Third Revolution (by a leading academic), Superpower Showdown (by a pair of US and Chinese journalists) and China-US Relations In The Eyes Of The Chinese Communist Party: An Insider’s Perspective (by a defector). It was all starting to get pretty repetitive but I was blown away by The Long Game, with its original approach using textual sources, and its approach of analysing the grand strategy. Somehow it was able to turn something as dry as old speeches and documents into an exhilarating read by drawing out the intentions behind the words. I highly recommend this book, with the caveat that it does get a bit repetitive in parts (could benefit from some editing) and it might be a little dry for people who are not military or foreign policy junkies.

POLITICAL EVOLUTION

Rush Doshi's review of China's history in "The Long Game" is enlightening. One cannot deny the truth and logic of Doshi's explanation of China's commitment and success in returning to international prominence. Doshi's proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and his thorough review of China's history give credibility and gravitas to his assessment. Doshi explains China's socialist belief is grounded in Leninist communist theory. Lenin believed in the Marxist principles of history and society that show materialism leads to human exploitation.

The irony of Doshi's history is that no form of government has been found that fairly mitigates self-interest inherent in human beings. Just as American leaders who have put their personal interest above the interests of their country, Chinese communist leaders have been found to be corrupt and more concerned about themselves than the lives of their country's people. Both China and America have a history of discrimination and unfair treatment of their citizens.

The evolution of political governance offers a kernel of hope for world peace. Until a form of government equitably manages human self-interest, periodic wars and social unrest will continue. Neither China nor America have found an answer. One may conclude from Doshi's history, the answer is neither "Big Brother" control nor unregulated freedom.