Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the global rise of autocracy, new challenges posed by an assertive Russia and China, and an increasingly insular America – and what it all means for democracy and security in a changing world.
In Autocrats vs. Democrats, Ambassador McFaul makes the case for democsracy and defines the threats posed by China, Russia, and America’s shift to isolationism to the global international order as we know it.
Join us November 12th to hear exclusive insight from Ambassador McFaul, the leading Russia and Eurasian affairs expert, on his forthcoming book and his vision of American leadership on the world stage.
About the Book
Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul
A bold, clear-eyed look at how the autocracies of China and Russia are challenging the current global order, and how America’s future depends on successfully confronting this threat.
The rise of China, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the reelection of President Donald Trump have reinforced a gloomy yet growing consensus: the old global order has ended, and a new Cold War has begun.
In this sweeping account of great power competition between the United States, China, and Russia over the past three centuries, Michael McFaul—former ambassador to Russia and international affairs analyst for NBC News—argues persuasively that today’s challenges require fresh thinking, not constrained by distant memories of the Cold War or the nationalist dreams of MAGA.
Acknowledging how Xi’s China, Putin’s Russia, and Trump’s America are upending the current international system, Autocrats vs Democrats makes the case against America’s retreat from the world, detailing why:
- Russia’s disruptive ambitions should not be underestimated.
- China’s capabilities should not be overestimated.
- Trump’s shift toward isolationism and autocracy will weaken America’s place in the world.
At once a clarion call for American diplomacy and a forceful rebuttal of the Trump administration’s policies, Autocrats vs Democrats provides a nuanced assessment of the China and Russia threats, as well as a bold vision for renewing America’s leadership on the world stage.
Pre-order a copy of Autocrats vs. Democrats, coming October 28th, 2025
