Foreign Affairs July/August 2026 Volume 105 No. 4

Jul 9, 2026

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Foreign Affairs July/August 2026 (Volume 105, Number 4) presents a themed issue on future conflict and global strategic competition, exploring how new technologies reshape military advantage, deterrence, and war-fighting. Essays examine shifting power dynamics across China, Russia, Iran, the Middle East, and broader regional frameworks, including nuclear stability and long-run force planning. The issue also includes reviews and editorial materials alongside institutional information about the publisher and contributors.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages208

Reading Time8 h 44 min

AccessFree to download

Essays

War and Technology

China, Russia, and Regional Power

Nuclear Deterrence and Strategic Stability

Foreign Policy Frameworks

Reviews and Responses

Book Reviews

Letters to the Editor

july/august 2026 who will win the next war ? The ADAM SMITH CENTER for ECONOMIC FREEDOM Inform. Innovate. Influence. Inspire. A world-class think tank to advance economic freedom and prosperity. The Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom is a world-class, independent, non-partisan think tank that aims to inform, influence, and inspire current and future leaders to develop and implement innovative, meaningful, and effective policies to advance economic and individual freedom and human prosperity. [Learn more at freedom.fiu.edu](Learn more at freedom.fiu.edu) Discover our master’s of science program in Business and Government Leadership – enrolling inaugural cohort Fall 2026 in Miami, Florida. [freedom.fiu.edu](freedom.fiu.edu) Volume 105, Number 4 Essays Losing the War of the Future How New Technologies Threaten America’s Military Advantage Paul Scharre The Mirage of China’s Military Edge Panic Is Misguided—and Counterproductive DenniS Blair The Next Russia Threat Moscow’s Military Power After Ukraine Michael KofMan The Middle East Power Paradox How theIran War Will Transform America’s Military Role Dana Stroul The Strange Defeat of Nuclear Deterrence And the Coming Crisis in Strategic Stability roSe GotteMoeller 8 24 40 54 65 Cover illustration by Edward Tuckwell 1 \#1 in the nation in foreign language instruction 91% of our students launch their careers within 6 months of graduating WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD? FIRST SEEK TO UNDERSTAND IT INDIANA UNIVERSITY OFFERS 70+ LANGUAGES 370+ programs for studying abroad orin the nation’s capital INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON The Broken Nuclear Umbrella What Comes After Extended Deterrence Jennifer linD anD Daryl G. PreSS The Afghanistan Reckoning Forever Wars and the Costs of Collective Forgetting carter MalKaSian Iran’s New Grand Strategy How aRemade Islamic Republic Will Reshape the Middle East narGeS BaJoGhli anD Vali naSr Heartland vs. Rimland The Battle Lines in the Warfor the Next Global Order Michael BecKley anD hal BranDS The Fault Lines in China’s Power America Must Build—and Use—Leverage Against Beijing ely ratner anD nicK DanBy Why “China First”Will Fail The Limits and Lessons of a Transactional Foreign Policy Patricia M. KiM How to Survive the AI Shock A Policy Playbook toAvert Political Crisis JaMeS a . DaViDSon anD Matthew J. SlauGhter 76 90 102 118 135 151 164 july/august 2026 3 Reviews and Responses | Who Is China? | 178 | | --- | --- | | Beijing’s Self-Inflicted Identity Crisis
ian JohnSon | | | A Democracy Safe for the World How to Fix a Broken System
Sheri BerMan | 185 | | Why America Gets Africa Wrong | 193 | | U.S. Policy Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better Zachariah MaMPilly | | | Letters to the Editor | 199 | | The Archive | 204 | “Foreign Affairs. . . will tolerate wide differences of opinion. Its articles will not represent any consensus of beliefs. What is demanded of them is that they shall be competent and well informed, representing honest opinions seriously held and convincingly expressed. . . .It does not accept responsibility for the views expressed in any article, signed or unsigned, which appear in its pages. What it does accept is the responsibility forgiving them a chance to appear there.” Archibald Cary Coolidge, Founding Editor Volume 1, Number 1 • September 1922 july/august 2026 5 july/august 2026 · volume 105, number 4 Published by the Council on Foreign Relations daniel kurtz-phelan Editor, Peter G. Peterson Chair justin vogt Executive Editor Chloe Fox, kanishk tharoor Deputy Editors hugh eakin Editor-at-Large daniel bloCk, eve Fairbanks, joshua Freedman, laurel jarombek Senior Editors elise burr, david kortava Associate Editors ben metzner, Caroline WilCox Staff Editors mary kate godFrey, rose kohler Assistant Editors, David M. Rubenstein Editorial Fellows raChel poWell Social Media Editor eliza

FAQs

What main themes do the essays address in this issue?

The essays focus on future warfare, the impact of emerging technologies on military advantage, and the strategic implications for deterrence and stability across multiple regions.

Which geopolitical areas are covered by the main essay topics?

Coverage includes China, Russia, Iran, the Middle East, and broader global order considerations, comparing different strategic perspectives and military postures.

Does the issue include content beyond essays?

Yes. It also contains reviews and responses, including book review entries and a section for letters to the editor.

Jul 9, 2026

191

Upload by Noah