Hoover Institution fellow Michael McFaul joins Elliot Gerson for a broad discussion about democracy, diplomacy and the emerging shape of the global order. The conversation focuses on how international relations are shifting as major powers compete more openly and long-standing assumptions face new strain.
A central theme is the challenge the United States faces from both China and Russia. Their actions and influence are presented as major tests for US foreign policy, forcing Washington to weigh security concerns, strategic competition and the role of diplomacy in managing growing tensions.
The discussion also looks beyond those two rivals to the wider geopolitical pressures affecting the United States. As the international environment becomes more complex, the debate turns to how democracies respond when power balances change and global institutions are under pressure.
Taken together, the exchange frames democracy and diplomacy as closely linked in a period of uncertainty. McFaul’s conversation with Gerson highlights how the new world order is not defined by a single conflict, but by a broader realignment that is reshaping international politics.
