All Things Policy The Tech Cold War ft. Ansgar Baums
Jul 31, 2025
Ansgar Baums, a Senior Advisor at Sinolytics and co-author of 'The Tech Cold War,' dives into the intersection of technology and geopolitics. He discusses how technology shapes global power dynamics, often eclipsing geographical relevance. The conversation highlights Europe's struggles amid the U.S.-China tech rivalry and India's strategic positioning. Baums emphasizes the necessity of cooperation to address global issues like climate change, even in a landscape dominated by competitive tensions.
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Technology Reshapes Geopolitics
- Technology fundamentally reshapes geopolitics by assigning or removing importance to geography based on industrial and military needs.
- Innovations like synthetic rubber or the combustion engine shifted geopolitical focus from land to technological capabilities.
Tech Seen as Zero-Sum Game
- U.S. policymakers have shifted from believing technology is positive-sum to zero-sum, emphasizing control and containment.
- This zero-sum framing mirrors the Cold War, increasing geopolitical tensions around technology as a source of power.
Corporations Navigate Geopolitical Risks
- Corporations must manage geopolitical regulations as business risks, often leading them to adapt operations instead of fully complying with government pressure.
- Companies sometimes separate or adjust business in China to maintain market access while minimizing regulatory exposure.
