The Coming Storm
Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History
by Odd Arne Westad
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Mar 03 2026 | Archive Date Apr 03 2026
Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co.
Description
A Foreign Policy most anticipated book of the year
From a renowned Yale historian comes a chilling look at the looming threat of the next Great Power war and the urgent interventions necessary to avoid it in the twenty-first century.
The vast majority of people alive today have come of age in a world of remarkable stability, presided over by either one or two Superpowers. This is not to say the world has been peaceful; but it has, to a great extent, been predictable. As an increasing number of Great Powers jostle for regional supremacy, as well as competitive advantage in nuclear technology, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and trade, our world has become more fragile, unpredictable—and combustible. The outbreak of global war among today’s Great Powers seems increasingly likely. Such war, as Odd Arne Westad powerfully argues in this urgent book, would be of a magnitude and devastation never before seen.
To understand the threats that face us in this complex new terrain, we must look to the lessons of the past, and especially the late nineteenth and early twentieth century—a time when Great Powers clashed and sought regional dominance, nationalism and populism were on the rise, and many felt that globalization had failed them; a time when tariffs increased, immigration and terrorism were among the biggest issues of the day, and a growing number of people blamed the citizens of other countries for their problems. A time, in other words, that carries eerie parallels with our own.
Advance Praise
"Odd Arne Westad makes the case that the world we are entering bears striking similarities to that of the late 19th and early 20th Century, as Britain's hegemony began to give way and a rising Germany sought its place in the sun. Historical analogies are usually difficult to sustain, but Westad brings so much erudition, intelligence, and insight to the table that he pulls it off! This is a short book on a big subject that will make you think long after you put it down."
—Fareed Zakaria, author of Age of Revolutions
"This may be the most important book you read this year. The Great Power peace of the last 80 years is ending as the U.S., China, Russia and others compete for global power. Yale historian Arne Westad traces history's lessons that may help us to prevent a future great power war."
—Nicholas Burns, Harvard Kennedy School Professor and former U.S. Ambassador to China
“Odd Arne Westad, a preeminent historian of modern China and its international role, has written a passionate and informed warning about the very real prospects today for great-power war in light of the origins of World War I. But he recognizes analogies need not be fate and proposes policies needed to avert catastrophe. Can we and our leaders walk the knife-edge?”
—Charles S. Maier, professor emeritus of history, Harvard University
"The Coming Storm is an urgent and insightful book that speaks directly to the current moment. Odd Arne Westad offers a timely wake-up call about the risks we face as global tensions rise. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand where the world may be headed and how we might still change course."
—Stephen Hadley, former US National Security Adviser
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781250410283 |
| PRICE | $27.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 11 members
Featured Reviews
James S, Educator
Odd Arne Westad's The Coming Storm is an interesting, if disturbing, analysis of our world - both now and immediately prior to the onset of World War I. It has become increasingly common to compare developments in Europe - notably the rise of Fascism and attendant events - prior to World War II with our current political climate. This is not to diminish the validity and importance of such comparisons in any way. But what Westad has done is a little different.
The Coming Storm analyzes motivations and conditions globally prior to World War I, explaining how they almost inevitably led to war. Westad then makes a compelling case that such conditions are again in place today. While he looks in greatest detail at the relationships between China and the United States as well as their more global connections, he delves into other nations and situations as well - Russia, India, Europe, the Middle East, and more. All very complicated (and inter-related), but he makes the analysis in some depth and quite understandable. It is a demonstration of significant scholarship and analysis, not only of history but also of current geopolitical status. There is much to learn here - and much to think about.
In the end, Westad does offer some hope, though perhaps not belief, that it is not to late to avoid some of the mistakes of the early 20th century and the tragic outcome that arose from them. But given his initial premise that war was virtually inevitable then, and the belief that we have changed little and learned little from that era, it is hard to find much optimism in this book. Still well worth the read and the warning....
Readers who liked this book also liked:
© 2026 NetGalley LLC
• All Rights Reserved
