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2026.03.21 22:25 GMT+8

Combing through global trends with Professor Odd Arne Westad

Updated 2026.03.21 22:25 GMT+8
CGTN

Editor's Note: Is the world entering a new era of great power rivalry that echoes the years before World War I? What lessons from history can help today's leaders avoid a larger global conflict? In this episode of The Hub, Wang Guan speaks with renowned historian Professor Odd Arne Westad, Elihu Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University. They explore how today's geopolitical tensions compare with the unstable decades before World War I. The conversation examines the risks posed by unresolved regional conflicts, rising great power competition, and a weakening role for international institutions. They discuss the importance of the United Nations, the growing complexity of nuclear deterrence, and why arms control remains essential in a multipolar world. The discussion also looks at the future of China-US relations and the possibility of managed competition between the two powers. Professor Westad reflects on common misperceptions about China, the role of domestic development in shaping its priorities, and the broader challenges of navigating a more complex global order. The conversation closes with a reflection on the challenges facing America today and the need for a new vision for international cooperation.

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