Michael McFaul discusses his book Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America and the New Global Disorder, reflecting on the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis as the most dangerous moment of the Cold War. He emphasizes that the primary lesson learned was the

Michael McFaul discusses his book Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America and the New Global Disorder, reflecting on the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis as the most dangerous moment of the Cold War. He emphasizes that the primary lesson learned was the necessity of crisis management mechanisms and direct communication to prevent nuclear obliteration. McFaul argues that today's lack of connectivity with China is a major risk, as stabilization requires understanding an adversary's intentions. He compares the revolutionary "will" of Mao's China to Putin's modern revisionist imperialism, noting that high intentionality can be as destabilizing as raw capability. Effective diplomacy requires engaging adversaries without compromising democratic values. (1/8)
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