Michael Brenes
@mbrenes.bsky.social
Historian at Yale.Non-Resident Fellow @cipolicy.bsky.social. New book: “The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy.” Next: a history of the War on Terror for Grove Atlantic. Avi by @seanandrewmurray.bsky.social.
Pinned
Michael Brenes
@mbrenes.bsky.social
· Jan 28
It’s publication day!! Very grateful that our book is now out in the world. What started as a short article developed into a multiyear project, a close collaboration, and an enduring friendship. Thanks to @vanjackson.bsky.social and everyone who supported us along the way! 1/
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Today, a growing number of countries are embracing “a more transactional, nineteenth-century model” of foreign affairs—but a more transactional era will not necessarily be a more peaceful one, writes @mbrenes.bsky.social.
The Transactional Trap
How foreign policy dealmaking can sow violence.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Today, a growing number of countries are embracing “a more transactional, nineteenth-century model” of foreign affairs—but a more transactional era will not necessarily be a more peaceful one, writes @mbrenes.bsky.social.
The postwar “rules-based order” is dead. A transactional world has taken its place, one where values, multilateralism, and liberalism have less influence, a world more suited for the 19th century instead of a multipolar order. My latest for @foreignaffairs.com.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The Transactional Trap
How foreign policy dealmaking can sow violence.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:32 PM
The postwar “rules-based order” is dead. A transactional world has taken its place, one where values, multilateralism, and liberalism have less influence, a world more suited for the 19th century instead of a multipolar order. My latest for @foreignaffairs.com.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Today, a growing number of countries are embracing “a more transactional, nineteenth-century model” of foreign affairs—but a more transactional era will not necessarily be a more peaceful one, writes @mbrenes.bsky.social.
The Transactional Trap
How foreign policy dealmaking can sow violence.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Today, a growing number of countries are embracing “a more transactional, nineteenth-century model” of foreign affairs—but a more transactional era will not necessarily be a more peaceful one, writes @mbrenes.bsky.social.
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Michael Brenes and Van Jackson on Why U.S.-China Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
Michael Brenes and Van Jackson on Why U.S.-China Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
www.sinicapodcast.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Michael Brenes and Van Jackson on Why U.S.-China Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Transcript | Michael Brenes and Van Jackson on Why U.S.-China Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
Transcript | Michael Brenes and Van Jackson on Why U.S.-China Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
www.sinicapodcast.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Transcript | Michael Brenes and Van Jackson on Why U.S.-China Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Today we mourn our beloved colleague Bill Burr, a giant in the field of nuclear history, who passed away last week. Click below to read tributes to Bill that have poured in from around the world.
nsarchive.gwu.edu/news/2025-12...
nsarchive.gwu.edu/news/2025-12...
In Memoriam: Dr. William Burr, 1949-2025
Washington, D.C., December 15, 2025 - The National Security Archive mourns the passing of our beloved colleague William Burr, the documentary leader of the nuclear history field, on December 11, 2025....
nsarchive.gwu.edu
December 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Today we mourn our beloved colleague Bill Burr, a giant in the field of nuclear history, who passed away last week. Click below to read tributes to Bill that have poured in from around the world.
nsarchive.gwu.edu/news/2025-12...
nsarchive.gwu.edu/news/2025-12...
Reposted by Michael Brenes
I am pleased to share my dual review of Roady & Preston’s recent histories examining FDR’s New Deal & national security. My thanks to the @lawfaremedia.org editorial team for their guidance and to @mbrenes.bsky.social for his early support.
@seanmcase.bsky.social reviews “The Contest Over National Security" by Peter Roady and “Total Defense" by Andrew Preston, which both trace the faults with our current understanding of national security to the New Deal, but tell quite different tales and focus on different sets of key actors.
How to Tell a National Security Story
A review of two books from Peter Roady and Andrew Preston.
www.lawfaremedia.org
December 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I am pleased to share my dual review of Roady & Preston’s recent histories examining FDR’s New Deal & national security. My thanks to the @lawfaremedia.org editorial team for their guidance and to @mbrenes.bsky.social for his early support.
Reposted by Michael Brenes
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Transition Security Project
transitionsecurity.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Roundtable Review 17-7
Lauren Benton’s They Called it Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence
“Imperial powers permitted conquest if it prevented global war. Peace often meant war, at least on a liminal scale. The modern world...cannot, escape imperial violence.” –Michael Brenes
wp.me/p2Insd-7vt
Lauren Benton’s They Called it Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence
“Imperial powers permitted conquest if it prevented global war. Peace often meant war, at least on a liminal scale. The modern world...cannot, escape imperial violence.” –Michael Brenes
wp.me/p2Insd-7vt
Jervis Forum Roundtable 17-7 on Benton, They Called it Peace
Roundtable Review 17-7 Lauren Benton, They Called it Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence (Princeton University Press, 2024). ISBN: 9780691248479. 6 October 2025 | PDF: https://issforum.org/to/jrt17-7 |...
wp.me
October 6, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Roundtable Review 17-7
Lauren Benton’s They Called it Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence
“Imperial powers permitted conquest if it prevented global war. Peace often meant war, at least on a liminal scale. The modern world...cannot, escape imperial violence.” –Michael Brenes
wp.me/p2Insd-7vt
Lauren Benton’s They Called it Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence
“Imperial powers permitted conquest if it prevented global war. Peace often meant war, at least on a liminal scale. The modern world...cannot, escape imperial violence.” –Michael Brenes
wp.me/p2Insd-7vt
Reposted by Michael Brenes
On October 2nd, our @cornellbtpi.bsky.social Fellows met with Professor @mbrenes.bsky.social: Co-Director of the Brady-Johnson Program at Yale University @yalepress.bsky.social and Professor Michael Williams: Associate Professor at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University @syracuseup.bsky.social.
October 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
On October 2nd, our @cornellbtpi.bsky.social Fellows met with Professor @mbrenes.bsky.social: Co-Director of the Brady-Johnson Program at Yale University @yalepress.bsky.social and Professor Michael Williams: Associate Professor at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University @syracuseup.bsky.social.
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Awesome review of The Rivalry Peril in The Nation magazine! Thanks, @jeetheer.bsky.social! ( @mbrenes.bsky.social )
September 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Awesome review of The Rivalry Peril in The Nation magazine! Thanks, @jeetheer.bsky.social! ( @mbrenes.bsky.social )
Reposted by Michael Brenes
By framing China as an existential threat, this conversation explores how policymakers recycle discredited Cold War myths, fueling militarization, inequality, xenophobia, and global instability.
With @mbrenes.bsky.social on @amprestigepod.bsky.social
With @mbrenes.bsky.social on @amprestigepod.bsky.social
E220 - The Perils of Competition With China w/ Michael Brenes
Podcast Episode · American Prestige · 07/29/2025 · 1h 3m
buff.ly
August 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
By framing China as an existential threat, this conversation explores how policymakers recycle discredited Cold War myths, fueling militarization, inequality, xenophobia, and global instability.
With @mbrenes.bsky.social on @amprestigepod.bsky.social
With @mbrenes.bsky.social on @amprestigepod.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Read his book on the subject, which he co-authored with @vanjackson.bsky.social, The Rivalry Peril: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
The Rivalry Peril
How the U.S. policy of competition with China is detrimental to democracy, peace, and prosperity—and how a saner approach is possible For close to a dec...
yalebooks.yale.edu
July 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Read his book on the subject, which he co-authored with @vanjackson.bsky.social, The Rivalry Peril: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
Reposted by Michael Brenes
E220 - The Perils of Competition With China w/ @mbrenes.bsky.social
Michael Brenes returns to the pod, this time to tell us why a rivalry with China might not exactly be in everyone’s best interest.
Link in replies!
Michael Brenes returns to the pod, this time to tell us why a rivalry with China might not exactly be in everyone’s best interest.
Link in replies!
July 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
E220 - The Perils of Competition With China w/ @mbrenes.bsky.social
Michael Brenes returns to the pod, this time to tell us why a rivalry with China might not exactly be in everyone’s best interest.
Link in replies!
Michael Brenes returns to the pod, this time to tell us why a rivalry with China might not exactly be in everyone’s best interest.
Link in replies!
Reposted by Michael Brenes
This looks like something I absolutely *must* read.
Whenever I (in "provocative European mode") ask US experts/ policymakers *why* US is obsessed with competition with China, the answer is often that it is "just logical", "obvious" etc. Looking forward to reading another perspective.
Whenever I (in "provocative European mode") ask US experts/ policymakers *why* US is obsessed with competition with China, the answer is often that it is "just logical", "obvious" etc. Looking forward to reading another perspective.
IR Book of the Week!
"The Rivalry Peril" by @mbrenes.bsky.social & @vanjackson.bsky.social. Great Power Competition with China is not a structural necessity. It is a policy choice. And that choice can have negative consequences at home for the USA, even more than abroad.
"The Rivalry Peril" by @mbrenes.bsky.social & @vanjackson.bsky.social. Great Power Competition with China is not a structural necessity. It is a policy choice. And that choice can have negative consequences at home for the USA, even more than abroad.
The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy [Jackson, Van, Brenes, Michael] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
www.amazon.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
This looks like something I absolutely *must* read.
Whenever I (in "provocative European mode") ask US experts/ policymakers *why* US is obsessed with competition with China, the answer is often that it is "just logical", "obvious" etc. Looking forward to reading another perspective.
Whenever I (in "provocative European mode") ask US experts/ policymakers *why* US is obsessed with competition with China, the answer is often that it is "just logical", "obvious" etc. Looking forward to reading another perspective.
Many thanks to @profpaulpoast.bsky.social for the shout out! Awesome to have our book on his list. For some reason—I still don’t know why—you can get our book on Amazon for only $7 right now
IR Book of the Week!
"The Rivalry Peril" by @mbrenes.bsky.social & @vanjackson.bsky.social. Great Power Competition with China is not a structural necessity. It is a policy choice. And that choice can have negative consequences at home for the USA, even more than abroad.
"The Rivalry Peril" by @mbrenes.bsky.social & @vanjackson.bsky.social. Great Power Competition with China is not a structural necessity. It is a policy choice. And that choice can have negative consequences at home for the USA, even more than abroad.
The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy [Jackson, Van, Brenes, Michael] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy
www.amazon.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Many thanks to @profpaulpoast.bsky.social for the shout out! Awesome to have our book on his list. For some reason—I still don’t know why—you can get our book on Amazon for only $7 right now
I told Tom Edsall in @nytimes.com that Donald Trump is "profiting from the Democrats’ inability to put their house in order… Even if Democrats win the Senate and the House in 2026, Trump is unlikely to let that stop him from continuing his policies.”
Opinion | When It Comes to Undermining America, We Have a Winner
www.nytimes.com
July 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I told Tom Edsall in @nytimes.com that Donald Trump is "profiting from the Democrats’ inability to put their house in order… Even if Democrats win the Senate and the House in 2026, Trump is unlikely to let that stop him from continuing his policies.”
Reposted by Michael Brenes
For the @newrepublic.com, I wrote about the pendulum swinging back to the Democrats (or to the Left), and what history might tell us about our political future.
What If the Political Pendulum Doesn’t Swing Back?
The Cycles of American History foresaw American voter dealignment, and an electronic age that would see voters prioritize personality over party—but it didn’t anticipate Trump.
newrepublic.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM
For the @newrepublic.com, I wrote about the pendulum swinging back to the Democrats (or to the Left), and what history might tell us about our political future.
Reposted by Michael Brenes
"Schlesinger’s theory worked in the twentieth century because it presumed that all Americans accepted liberalism or liberal tenets—everyone lived in the shadow of liberalism, even if they tried to avoid or repudiate it...
newrepublic.com/article/1975...
newrepublic.com/article/1975...
July 11, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"Schlesinger’s theory worked in the twentieth century because it presumed that all Americans accepted liberalism or liberal tenets—everyone lived in the shadow of liberalism, even if they tried to avoid or repudiate it...
newrepublic.com/article/1975...
newrepublic.com/article/1975...
For the @newrepublic.com, I wrote about the pendulum swinging back to the Democrats (or to the Left), and what history might tell us about our political future.
What If the Political Pendulum Doesn’t Swing Back?
The Cycles of American History foresaw American voter dealignment, and an electronic age that would see voters prioritize personality over party—but it didn’t anticipate Trump.
newrepublic.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM
For the @newrepublic.com, I wrote about the pendulum swinging back to the Democrats (or to the Left), and what history might tell us about our political future.
Reposted by Michael Brenes
We document many such cases like this in The Rivalry Peril
July 6, 2025 at 2:26 AM
We document many such cases like this in The Rivalry Peril
Reposted by Michael Brenes
I wrote about how the Everglades experiment fits into the history of concentration camps in the US and abroad, and how it will connect a domestic network of camps to an international one. We’re watching the imposition of a global concentration camp network.
Opinion | Don’t call it ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’ Call it a concentration camp.
This facility’s purpose fits the classic model, and its existence points to serious dangers ahead for the country.
www.msnbc.com
July 5, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I wrote about how the Everglades experiment fits into the history of concentration camps in the US and abroad, and how it will connect a domestic network of camps to an international one. We’re watching the imposition of a global concentration camp network.
Reposted by Michael Brenes
Looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues at #SHAFR2025 this week! Join us on Saturday morning for our roundtable on The Global Cold War ✨
June 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues at #SHAFR2025 this week! Join us on Saturday morning for our roundtable on The Global Cold War ✨
Reposted by Michael Brenes
The relaunch of the SHAFR Summer Institute in t-minus 20 minutes!! #SHAFRSummerInstitute #SHAFR2025
June 21, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The relaunch of the SHAFR Summer Institute in t-minus 20 minutes!! #SHAFRSummerInstitute #SHAFR2025
Update! Oral histories are back online! Thanks @altusip.bsky.social
Any historians/scholars affected by DOGE? I'm in the middle of writing my book on the history of the War on Terror, which relies upon oral histories published by the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). DOGE killed it, sadly. And now the links to those oral histories are dead. Keep the citations, yes?
June 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Update! Oral histories are back online! Thanks @altusip.bsky.social