Image - the speaker and his book cover
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Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia and America and the New Global Disorder

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The international order in which most of us grew up is over, and a new cold war is setting in. That’s the growing consensus of people adjusting to the aggressive rise of China, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the reelection of President Donald Trump amid the growth of right-wing populist movements around the world. Michael McFaul says America’s future depends on how successfully it deals with this new global order. 

McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and an international affairs analyst for NBC News, says new thinking is required. The new cold war isn’t the same as the old U.S.–Soviet Cold War. He argues in his new book, Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder, that we should not underestimate the disruptive ambitions of Russia, nor should we overestimate China’s capabilities, and that the shift here at home toward isolationism and autocracy weaken America’s position in the world. 

Join us in Los Altos to hear McFaul draw from historical analysis and a forward-looking perspective to craft a new grand strategy for the United States in the challenging new age of global disorder.

Organizer
Carol Kuiper
Notes

This program is: in-person only. If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

A Peninsula Chapter program. Chapters and forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, and they cover a diverse range of topics. 

This program is presented by Commonwealth Club World Affairs, Los Altos Library, and the League of Women Voters of the Los Altos Mountain View Area

Photo courtesy the speaker.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Wed, Jan 7 / 7:30 PM PST

Los Altos Community Center
Grand Oak Room
97 Hillview Avenue
Los Altos, CA 94022
United States

Speakers
Image - Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation; International News Analyst, NBC News; Retiring Director, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University; Author. Autocrats vs Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder

Image - Gloria Duffy

In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy

Co-president and Co-CEO, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California

Format

7 p.m. doors open & check-in
7:30–9 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

This program is free, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged; donations during registration are welcomed to support our programming.