30 Jan 2026
1h 3m

How the World Sees America, With Adam Tooze

Podcast cover

The Ezra Klein Show

The podcast explores the shifting global order, particularly focusing on America's changing role and the rise of China. Adam Tooze, a historian at Columbia University, discusses his observations from Davos, where the Trump administration's approach dismayed global leaders. He contrasts the Biden administration's vision of American power with Trump's more transactional, less idealistic view. The conversation highlights China's economic and industrial advancements, especially in green energy, and questions whether the West can effectively compete or collaborate. Tooze argues against a simplistic view of a transition to a Chinese-dominated order, advocating instead for a multipolar world with diverse, overlapping networks of stability. He emphasizes the need for humility and pragmatism in understanding China's unique historical experiment.

Outlines

Part 1: Global Rupture and the Trump Era

Part 2: American Power and Policy Shifts

Part 3: The China Factor and Global Competition

Part 4: Future Outlook and Recommendations

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