Derek A Levine

Dr. Derek Levine is one of today’s most authoritative voices on geopolitics, with a specialization in U.S.–China relations. A full-time professor at Monroe University and King Graduate School (KGS), Dr. Levine has also taught at premier institutions across the United States and internationally, where he challenges students and scholars alike to move beyond headlines and critically interrogate dominant narratives.

A former senior analyst at the Center for Terrorism and Intelligence Studies and the Akribis Group, Dr. Levine remains deeply engaged in the intellectual landscape as an editor and peer reviewer for leading academic journals and publishers. He is also a sought-after speaker at conferences, think tanks, and global policy forums.

Dr. Levine earned his Ph.D. from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. With a background spanning academia, journalism, and high-level research, he brings decades of insight to global affairs. Fluent in Mandarin and having lived, worked, and studied extensively in China, he offers a rare, firsthand understanding of the strategic, political, and cultural forces shaping the U.S.–China relationship.

He is the acclaimed author of The Dragon Takes Flight: China's Aviation Policy, Achievements, and Implications for the U.S. and Europe, and his highly anticipated second book, China’s Path to Dominance: Preparing for Confrontation with the U.S., will be released in July 2025.

Dr. Levine’s research has been published in top-tier journals such as the Journal of Contemporary China, the American Journal of China Studies, and the Journal of Strategic Security. His analysis and commentary have also been featured in major international outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The Guardian, the BBC, Asia Times, National Review, Washington Examiner, The Hill, The Diplomat, RealClear Media, and MSNBC.

In an era when many institutions prioritize funding over facts and intellectual conformity over critique, Dr. Levine remains unapologetically committed to truth and independent inquiry.

“Too many scholars are playing it safe. Too many institutions are chasing funding over facts. And too many voices are being silenced.

I didn’t enter academia to be agreeable — I entered to ask the hard questions. To challenge power. To expose the uncomfortable truths behind U.S.–China relations.

I’m not here to fit in. I’m here to speak out.”

Whether on the page, in the classroom, or on the global stage, Dr. Derek Levine delivers bold, unflinching analysis that reshapes how we understand power, conflict, and the future of international relations.