Ezra's Bookshelf

The Strategy of Denial

by Elbridge Colby · 381 pages · ~7 hrs

Foreign PolicyPolitics & Government

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Elbridge Colby, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, presents the strategic case for how America should prepare to deter and, if necessary, defeat Chinese aggression against Taiwan and other Asian allies. His central argument is counterintuitive: the best way to prevent war is to prepare seriously to win one. Colby meticulously analyzes the military balance in the Western Pacific, explaining why traditional American power projection capabilities face unprecedented challenges from China's anti-access weapons and growing naval strength. He argues for a 'denial defense' strategy focused on making any Chinese attack so costly and unlikely to succeed that Beijing calculates the risks outweigh potential gains. The book addresses difficult tradeoffs, including the implications for European security and the Middle East if resources shift to Asia. Colby engages critics who favor accommodation or believe economic interdependence makes war unthinkable. His analysis rests on classical strategic thinking about deterrence and the balance of power, applied to contemporary conditions. For policymakers, military planners, and citizens seeking to understand the stakes in great power competition, this book provides a rigorous framework for thinking about America's most consequential strategic challenge.

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