The Lawfare Podcast Graham Allison on Henry Kissinger
Dec 8, 2023
Graham Allison, former student and colleague of Henry Kissinger, discusses Kissinger's legacy as a statesman, his engagement with history, and his brand of realism. They also explore Kissinger's accomplishments, failures, and concerns towards the end of his life. Topics include preventing great power wars, limiting nuclear weapons states, preventing destructive applications of AI, privacy risks, realism and idealism in international relations, and the rivalry between the US and China.
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Kissinger's Role In Preventing Great Power War
- Kissinger helped sustain an unprecedented 79 years without great power war by shaping Cold War and nuclear statecraft.
- He negotiated détente, SALT and the ABM treaty and pushed norms that prevented nuclear use and proliferation to nine states.
Strategic Management To Keep The Cold War Cold
- Kissinger advanced the idea of keeping the Cold War 'cold' by managing rivalry through communication and constraints.
- He pursued détente, opening to China, and arms-control frameworks to reduce risks of incidents, accidents, and escalation to war.
Designing Durable Management For Irreconcilable Conflicts
- Kissinger created durable frameworks for managing irreconcilable disputes, notably US-China-Taiwan arrangements and Israel-Egypt peace.
- He prioritized sustainable management over impossible resolution, producing decades-long stability across hot disputes.