McFaul's World
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Here, at McFaul’s World, we will wrestle with the big questions about the nature of international politics today, and especially America’s place in this world.
What does this new era of great power competition between the United States, China, and Russia mean for American national interests, small d democrats around the world, and the future of the international system?
What is the state of play between the struggle between democrats versus autocrats around the world, both between countries and within countries?
The greatest threat to democracy, sovereignty, and a rules-based international system is Putin’s war in Ukraine. How do we understand the conflict and what can we do to help end it?
As a lifelong academic, I aim to engage these questions through hypothesis testing and data. But I do have opinions, beliefs, and normative commitments - the belief in the universality of human rights and in democracy. I realize that the older I get, the less I feel I know. So, on this platform, I want to learn through meaningful dialogue with anyone who wants to join the conversation in a respectful way. No name-calling here. No propagating obvious disinformation. But if you too like to learn through interaction, updated assumptions, logical reasoning, exposure to new evidence, and argumentation, then you’ll have fun here.
So, now that we’ve established the rules of engagement, what can you expect at this platform?
First drafts of analytical pieces mostly on international politics and American democracy, but not only. Because they will be first drafts, hungry for your feedback!
Personal, reflective essays inspired by my own historical experience at home and abroad
Interaction with you in a structured, meaningful dialogue via chat sessions and other means. Together we learn and grow. Source
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesTrump, Xi, and Why I Wrote Autocrats vs. Democrats
As Xi Jinping visits the United States this week, much of the discussion will understandably focus on the immediate issues dividing Washington and Beijing. But Xi’s visit also raises a bigger question that I have spent years thinking about: What is the nature of great power competition in the 21st century—and how should America respond? That question was one of the reasons I wrote Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America and the New Global Disorder.
When Xi Meets Trump, He Should Say Thank You
When Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping meets with President Donald Trump this week, he should thank him. (We know from President Zelenskyy’s first Oval Office visit with Trump’s team how much they like it when you say thank you!) In the first two years of his second term, Trump has taken a series of foreign policy decisions that have weakened America’s global position and strengthened China’s.
Trump’s Foreign Policy Is Not Popular And Need Not Endure Beyond His Presidency
A dangerous fatalism is settling in about America’s place in the world. After Donald Trump became president for the first time in 2016, many around the world—government leaders and analysts alike—hoped that the outcome was a one-off protest vote, a very narrow one at that, and that victory and ideas did not signal a permanent change in American foreign policy.
My Interview with The Wire China
This article was originally published by The Wire China, based on an interview conducted in June 2026. You were recently in Beijing. What were you doing there? I was there to speak at a conference organized by the Stanford Center at Peking University. For those who have never been, it’s on the Beida campus. It’s this beautiful building — a Chinese building on the outside but part of Stanford underneath. I’ve spent a couple of summers teaching and doing research from there, in 2015, 2019, and 2023.
August 2026: Trump’s Trade Wars, Venezuela, and an Unforgettable Vacation
With the captain of our boat near Flores, Indonesia. Dear Friends and Colleagues, August has been a mix of work and pleasure for me, with a two-week trip to Indonesia providing a welcome opportunity to relax and spend some time with my family. It’s been a busy nine months since the publication of my book, Autocrats vs. Democrats, last October, with dozens of talks across the country and abroad.
Live with Christopher Peleo-Lazar
Generate transcript A transcript unlocks clips, previews, and editing. Available for iOS and Android Discussion about this video Writes Paul Kane Subscribe • Michael McFaul and catarina buchatskiy • Michael McFaul and Harry Litman • Michael McFaul and James Goldgeier • Michael McFaul and Jennifer Monaghan • Michael McFaul and Christopher Peleo-Lazar • Michael McFaul and Katie Couric
The Free World Is Done With Trump the Bully
So, now we are in a trade war with Canada. Canada! Americans have been blessed with a peaceful, cooperative, northern neighbor for many, many decades. Most countries do not have that luxury. In international relations, Canada has been one of America’s most loyal, enduring democratic allies, especially within NATO. Canada is also one of America’s most important trading partners, with more than $870 billion in goods and services traded between the two in 2025.
Thank you, Ukrainians! Happy Independence Day.
For many decades now, August 24th has been a special one for me. On this day, I reach out to Ukrainian friends to wish them a Happy Independence Day! I’ve been blessed to know many Ukrainians in my life. I began building this network while conducting research in Ukraine in the early 2000s for articles and books.
When Russian Elections Were Actually Competitive (Video)
Something a little different today. I recently spoke with Jason Blevins of The Kyiv Independent about Russia’s 1996 presidential election—an election in which the outcome was genuinely uncertain. That may be difficult to imagine today. Vladimir Putin has now ruled Russia for more than a quarter of a century (longer than Soviet leader Brezhnev was in power).
The Best Conversations From My Book Tour
This week, I published What I Learned From My Book Tour Across America, in whcih I reflected on some of the main takeaways from the last nine months of my book tour. During this time, I’ve also had the chance to talk about Autocrats vs. Democrats—and the ideas at the heart of the book—with some terrific interviewers.