Michael Beckley > Quotes

“Unipolarity is not omnipotence; it simply means that the United States has more than twice the wealth and military capabilities of any other nation. To translate those resources into influence, the United States will often have to collaborate with regional players.”
― Michael Beckley, Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World's Sole Superpower

“I argue that the United States will remain the world’s sole superpower for many decades, and probably throughout this century. We are not living in a transitional post–Cold War era. Instead, we are in the midst of what could be called the unipolar era—a period as profound as any epoch in modern history.”
― Michael Beckley, Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World's Sole Superpower

“Throughout the years of research and writing, my wife, Silvana, has been my best friend and sharpest critic, providing incisive feedback, unwavering support, good humor, and timely kicks in the rear. She scrutinized every word of this book, except for this paragraph, and her wise judgment vastly improved the final product. More important, her love and laughter lifted my spirits and made me whole. This book would not exist without her, and my life would not be nearly as fulfilling.”
― Michael Beckley, Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World's Sole Superpower

“It is the resulting fear of decline—not the optimism created by perpetual ascent—that frequently incites risky, belligerent behavior.”
― Michael Beckley, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China

“America and its allies should try to buy New Delhi’s cooperation by incentivizing companies to move telecommunications production from China to India.”
― Michael Beckley, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China

“But prospects for peaceful reunification are fading fast: It turns out most Taiwanese don’t want to live in a belligerent, neo-totalitarian state.”
― Michael Beckley, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China

“Prioritize ruthlessly; thwart near-term breakthroughs that can have devastating long-term effects. Be strategically deliberate and tactically agile; don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good. Firm up the defense by playing some offense; take prudent risks but not unduly provocative ones.”
― Michael Beckley, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China

“History does not repeat itself, Mark Twain observed, but it does rhyme:”
― Michael Beckley, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China

“It becomes clear that America’s economic and military lead over other countries is much larger than typically assumed—and the trends are mostly in its favor.”
― Michael Beckley, Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World's Sole Superpower