Pre-war period

Will history repeat itself? In the international bestseller 'The Coming Storm', Yale historian Odd Arne Westad reflects on the parallels between our own time and the period leading up to World War I.

Odd Arne Westad sees a fragile world order in which the United States -- like Britain in the late 19th century -- has lost its dominant influence and is challenged by regional powers, especially China. A third world war need not be an inevitable scenario, but could arise from a lack of diplomacy, bad decisions and the ego of state leaders.

Meet him this evening when he comes directly from the United States to guest at the Concert Hall. He is a professor of history and global relations at Yale University and one of the world's leading scholars on the Cold War, China, and international great power politics. Prior to joining Yale, he was affiliated with the London School of Economics and Harvard University. He is also a member of the British Academy.

The conversation takes place in English.

Hosted by Marc-Christoph Wagner