In a recent article, "Professor David Shambaugh’s Latest Book Examines the Collapse of U.S.-China Engagement", GWToday highlighted the book launch for Professor David Shambaugh's much-anticipated new book: Breaking the Engagement: How China Won & Lost America:
The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs hosted a launch event for David Shambaugh’s latest book, “Breaking the Engagement: How China Won & Lost America.”
Shambaugh, B.A. ’77, is the Gaston Sigur Professor of Asian Studies, Political Science and International Affairs and the founding director of the Elliott School’s China Policy Program.
As an internationally recognized scholar and award-winning author on contemporary China and the international relations of Asia, Shambaugh has authored 35 books, including 13 single-authored monographs (several of which have won awards). He served on the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council during the Carter administration. Over his distinguished career, he has also been a consultant to governments, universities, corporations, investment funds and numerous research institutions. He currently serves on multiple editorial boards and has received fellowships and grants from institutions such as the Fulbright Program, the Ford Foundation, the Wilson Center and the Smith Richardson Foundation.
Elliott School Dean Alyssa Ayres opened the event by highlighting Shambaugh’s contributions to the field and the significance of his work. She noted that his book was named one of “Foreign Policy” magazine’s most anticipated books of 2025 and praised its in-depth analysis of the evolution of United States-China relations.
“I think it's an understatement to say that Professor Shambaugh brings unique expertise to the subject of U.S.-China engagement,” Ayres said. “And it's no exaggeration to say that he has authored a groundbreaking analysis of the U.S.-China relationship. In this book, you'll find an expert and comprehensive overview of U.S. engagement with China across decades and an explanation of how that engagement disintegrated into the competition that dominates today's headlines.”
In his book, Shambaugh traces the rise and fall of the U.S. engagement strategy with China, arguing that its collapse stems from a mix of China’s assertive actions and America’s paternalistic expectations. He said in his many years of studying and teaching the history of U.S.-China relations, a question he’s grappled with is the deep, underlying drivers of the fluctuating U.S.-China relationship over time.
For more, read the complete article here.