The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History

Westad, Odd Arne. The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History. 2026. 256p. ISBN 9781250410283.

For decades, the majority of the global population has lived within a remarkably stable and predictable international order presided over by one or two superpowers. However, that era of predictability is over. An increasing number of Great Powers—including the U.S., China, and Russia—jostle for regional supremacy and competitive advantages in AI, nuclear technology, space, and trade. The world has become dangerously fragile, and the outbreak of a global war among today’s powers is becoming increasingly likely. Such a conflict would reach a magnitude of devastation never before seen in human history.

To navigate this combustible new terrain, The Coming Storm examines "eerie parallels" of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This was a time defined by rising nationalism and populism, escalating tariffs, and a widespread feeling that globalization had failed. Much like today, the public discourse was dominated by anxieties over immigration and terrorism, with citizens often blaming foreign nations for domestic hardships. By analyzing these historical echoes, The Coming Storm provides a sobering look at how similar patterns led to catastrophe in the past and offers a vital framework for understanding the existential threats facing the modern world.

Fans of history will enjoy learning about the structural causes of global conflict. The Coming Storm offers a political philosophy that includes a deeply researched warning for policymakers and concerned citizens alike about the precarious state of peace in the twenty-first century.