Destined for War

Destined for War examines the historical pattern of conflict between rising and established powers, applying this framework to contemporary US-China relations. Allison analyzes 16 cases of power transitions over the past 500 years, arguing that in 12 of them, war resulted—a pattern he terms the "Thucydides Trap." The book explores whether the US and China can escape this historical trajectory through strategic choices, examining military, economic, and political dimensions of their competition. Allison argues that while war is not inevitable, current trajectories and misunderstandings make conflict a serious risk without deliberate policy changes.