

Introducing Radio Davos
Aug 19, 2025
Adam Tooze, a historian at Columbia University and foreign policy economics columnist, shares his insights on the pivotal changes shaping our world. He discusses the U.S.-China trade war and the complexities of global perceptions in a time of geopolitical upheaval. The impact of artificial intelligence as a transformative force in international relations is also explored. Tooze highlights the historical lessons of the Trump administration's policies and the challenges faced by the Biden administration amid escalating tensions and evolving education landscapes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
A New Era Of American Disruption
- Adam Tooze argues the first five months of the Trump presidency represent an unprecedented rupture in US policymaking and global expectations.
- He says this abrupt disruption marks a genuine break with precedent that creates a new era and new challenges.
China Prepared For A Troubled Transition
- Tooze recounts Chinese leaders preparing for another Trump presidency and feeling vindicated by policy responses.
- He uses this to illustrate China's capacity to plan and mobilize stimulus effectively under uncertainty.
G2 Is No Longer The Default
- Tooze believes the G2 US-China leadership model is effectively dead after recent policy shifts and escalation.
- He expects future order to form around more predictable regional or pragmatic coalitions rather than a US-China partnership.