Nine stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Odd Arne Westad for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always eager to read while educating myself in equal measure, I turned to this fascinating and intellectually rigorous work by Yale historian Odd Arne Westad. In this timely audiobook, Westad examines how the 21st-century world has moved away from the dominance of a single superpower—or even a bipolar order—and toward an increasingly unstable system of competing regional powers, each testing the limits of influence and control.
For much of the modern era, global politics—while far from peaceful—has been relatively predictable. Power blocs behaved in expected ways, and outcomes, if not benign, were often foreseeable. Westad persuasively argues that this predictability is eroding. Drawing compelling parallels to the pre–First World War era, he suggests the world is entering a phase where regional powers seek to consolidate influence over their spheres, preparing—sometimes openly, sometimes quietly—for confrontation. The result is a global landscape marked less by stability and more by strategic tension.
Westad’s analysis is grounded in both deep historical knowledge and a sharp reading of contemporary geopolitics. He carefully weaves together past and present, allowing listeners to trace how old patterns of alliance-building, rivalry, and miscalculation are resurfacing in new forms. His discussion of the United States’ changing role—particularly during the Trump years—and the resulting power vacuums filled by China, Russia, and other unexpected actors is especially thought-provoking. While Westad resists making firm predictions, his repeated references to the collapse of pre-1914 alliances linger uneasily in the listener’s mind.
The audiobook format works particularly well for this material. The narration is clear, measured, and well-paced, making complex arguments accessible without oversimplifying them. Westad’s ideas are given the space they need to breathe, allowing attentive listeners to absorb the many historical parallels and geopolitical “aha” moments along the way.
What I appreciated most is that this book is not history for history’s sake. Westad uses the past as a lens through which to understand the present—and possibly the future—without resorting to alarmism. His themes are thoughtfully developed and supported by real-world events, offering a narrative that is both academically sound and engaging for non-specialists.
With nuclear weapons, cyber warfare, shifting borders, and fragile alliances, Westad makes clear that the world is entering a period of profound uncertainty. Watching from the sidelines may no longer be an option. This audiobook does not offer easy answers, but it provides essential context for anyone trying to understand the forces shaping our increasingly unsettled world. Highly recommended for listeners with an interest in history, international relations, or global affairs.
Kudos, Mr. Westad, for a thoroughly exciting piece of writing.
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