The American Edge: The Military Tech Nexus and the Sources of Great Power Dominance

by Seth Jones

To regaint its capacity to effectively deter China and retain its unmatched global status, the United States must deepn its partnership with the nation's most innovative tech companies. In The American Edge, Seth G. Jones explains how the industrial bases of the world's great military powers have risen, fallen, and evolved relative to each other over the past century, from Imperial Germany and Japan during World War II, to the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War, to the recent rise of China. In doing so, Jones reveals how the US is on a trajectory toward failure-a failure to effectively deter major adversaries, and to fight and win a great power war if necessary.

China is on a wartime footing. It is rapidly building its defense industrial base to deter and-if deterrence fails-to fight the United States. During periods of wartime, the US defense industrial base has always needed to maximize production capacity, minimize excessive regulations, and provide incentives to the private sector for innovation. Today, though, the US military industrial base is operating on a peacetime footing despite China's massive military buildup and Russia's total war in Ukraine. Set in its ways and trapped in outdated procurement systems, it lacks the capacity, responsiveness, flexibility, and surge capability to meet the military requirements to deter China.

However, the US does have a tremendously innovative private sector, from companies like SpaceX to Microsoft and Anduril, and this private sector can be leveraged. If the US can regain its capacity to respond flexibly and deter China in the current struggle for global power, it will need to come through the partnership with and utilization of these private companies. Along with providing a deep history of the economic foundations of how America's ascent to military superpower, this book shows how these innovative firms are helping the US military regain its edge and thereby retain its status as the world's paramount military force.

Genres: Military Fiction, Technology, Nonfiction, War, Politics

424 pages, Hardcover

Published November 3, 2025

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

America’s edge in defence lies in the partnership between government and the innovative private enterprises. Talented individuals, often migrants like Elon Musk, helped produced cutting edge technologies that gives its edge. That’s how it crushed Iraq’s Soviet Defence.

History showed that America often retreats to peace time war production during peace time. Many defence companies were forced to merge or fold after the Vietnam War.

However the author submitted that America is now in war time. Ammunitions and missile defence system cannot last more than a few weeks especially if against another major power such as China. Red tapes need to be cut and procurement cycles from 5 to 2 years.

China’s manufacturing abilities had grown, and is now number one in ship building. America needs to work with Korea and Japan to increase its ability.

Rare earth and other materials need to be secured.

So more spending is needed.

[Chris Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't vote or you protest vote this is the book for you. It describes the real world beyond the fantasies of hard left or right and the consequences of modern appeasement towards China or Russia.

[Sara Catterall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great read which could be read in three parts. Lays out history, challenges of today and future competition. It expanded my thinking and knowledge. The only disappointment was Seth touched on human capability in the intro and never quite got to it as a topic.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not half bad, it just kind of summarized the arguments we’ve heard for a while. It’s at its best when it sits in the historical. Could have shortened down a good deal of the repetition in argument toward the end: we get it, we need to do better.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for the DoD.