Tech Cold War: The Geopolitics of Technology

"A compelling account of how technology, businesses, and geopolitics have become increasingly interwoven in the 'Tech Cold War.'... This is a meticulous and insightful study." ―Choice

"A must read for anyone interested in the future of innovation and world politics." ―Abraham Newman, Georgetown University

"Illustrates clearly how the realm of technology could be disrupted by geopolitical rivalry. In no uncertain terms, the authors lay out the state of play in the competition for technological dominance, the challenges and pitfalls of escalation, and the lessons for governments and businesses." ―Christoph Heusgen, Munich Security Conference

"A timely contribution to the literature on tech competition between the United States and China, and a must-read for those who want to understand where global tech competition is headed."―William Klein, FGS Global

"Sheds much-needed light on the iterative back-and-forth between politics and business, actions and reactions, and at times, outcomes that neither side intended. Tech Cold War shows the effects, but as much the limitations of political tech control."―Björn Conrad, Sinolytics

TikTok, Huawei, semiconductors, AI … Technology has become a field of fierce geopolitical competition, especially between the United States and China. What drives this particular rivalry, and how are these two tech superpowers trying to curb each other's innovation systems? What roles do private companies play? 

As they delve into the complex dynamics of the US-China battle for technological supremacy, Ansgar Baums and Nicholas Butts unpack the two states' diverging approaches to developing technology infrastructure. Not least, they also highlight the deleterious consequences of this tech cold war on the global economy.

CONTENTS:

• The Weaponization of Tech.
• Geopolitics and Technology.
• Prelude to the Tech Cold War.
• The Shock.
• The New Normal.
• Between Bandwagoning and Balancing.
• Toward Split Digital Hemispheres.
• The Rise of the Geopolitical Enterprise.
• The Future of the Tech Cold War.

Ansgar Baums is senior fellow at the Stimson Center. Nicholas Butts is director of cybersecurity and AI/emerging technology policy at Microsoft.