This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler Trump, Putin and Xi – Conflict or collusion?
Sep 4, 2025
Stacie Goddard, a Political Science Professor at Wellesley College, dives into the complexities of global leadership in a time of great power competition. She discusses the fragile balance of conflict and collaboration among Trump, Putin, and Xi. The conversation highlights the waning influence of liberalism and the rise of populism, urging a renewed focus on political engagement. Goddard emphasizes the significance of Ukraine's conflict in shaping international order, advocating for a proactive stance on global democracy amidst shifting power dynamics.
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Conflict And Collusion Among Great Powers
- Stacie Goddard argues we face both great power conflict and emerging great power collusion driven by strongman leaders.
- Powerful states now act to manage outcomes among themselves, sidelining affected nations and institutions.
Post-2008 Shift To Competitive Politics
- Goddard traces the shift to increased contention after shocks like the 2008 crisis and Russia's actions in Georgia and Crimea.
- By 2014 major powers were less committed to cooperating within multilateral liberal institutions.
Syria And Libya As Turning Points
- Oz Katerji recounts Russia's intervention in Syria as a turning point that weakened the threat of US unilateral intervention.
- Stacie Goddard contrasts US interventions like Libya to show complex patterns of overreach and pushback.