After a century of chaos and mass death driven by conflicting ideologies, the world is entering a new era of stability. This new period of history is defined by the balance-of-power geopolitics embraced by Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The White House National Security Strategy appears to reflect this reality.

Some will say that this three-way rivalry is causing tension, risking another world war. I doubt it. In this new era, friction and competing interests will be seen as natural. The National Security Strategy continues:

Competition does not always mean hostility, nor does it inevitably lead to conflict.

But conflict can be stopped short of war, thanks to the balance of opposing forces and the power of economic and military deterrence.

Read the source article on global sustainability by Arthur Herman at Hudson Institute