Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder – The Former Ambassador's Bold Vision for Confronting Authoritarian Threats

Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia and international affairs analyst for NBC News, examines the geopolitical challenge posed by China and Russia to the democratic world. He argues that the rise of China, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and recent shifts in American foreign policy have ended the old global order and created new threats distinct from Cold War-era dangers. McFaul traces great power competition between the United States, China, and Russia over three centuries. He contends that current challenges—including the alliance between Chinese and Russian autocracies, China's economic power, the rise of far-right movements in the United States and Europe, and isolationist foreign policy shifts—require fresh strategic thinking rather than reliance on Cold War frameworks. The book combines historical analysis with forward-looking perspective to propose a new American grand strategy. McFaul argues that Russia's disruptive ambitions should not be underestimated, China's capabilities should not be overestimated, and that American isolationism and alignment with autocracy will diminish America's global standing. He presents a case for renewed American diplomatic leadership and engagement in the world.