Mobilizing the Past: The Lessons of History and the Danger of War between China and the United States

Historical analogies are often utilized to frame and formulate foreign policies, illuminate issues of war and peace, and mobilize support for particular political programs. The historical record, however, can be distorted in a variety of ways, leading to overly simplistic, misleading conclusions that impair sound policy and scholarship. This danger is most imminent and palpable when there exists premature academic consensus, pressure to conform to political orthodoxy, intellectual complacency, and cognitive resistance to alternate interpretations of historical episodes. We must be especially vigilant to guard against these pitfalls when deliberating one of the most high-stakes topics in global politics: the alarming potential for military conflict between the United States and China.

Past precedents and parallels regularly inform analyses of China's relations with the US. By highlighting serious errors of commission or omission in popular narratives and scholarly studies concerning international relations in general and Sino-American relations in particular, Steve Chan challenges commonly accepted "lessons of history" and cautions against the misuse and misunderstanding of the past in examining China's rise and its implications for international peace and stability. This far-reaching book presents alternative, overlooked historical accounts that are highly pertinent to Sino-American relations today, making it essential for researchers and students of international affairs.