Stanford
Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition
Stanford University and the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innvoation

Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition

Keeping America’s Edge in an Era of Great Power Rivalry

INTLPOL 340 / MS&E 296 | Fall Quarter 2022-2023

The U.S. national security establishment is at risk of being disrupted.

“We must contend with the reality that the distribution of power across the world is changing, creating new threats. China, in particular, has rapidly become more assertive. It is the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system. Russia remains determined to enhance its global influence and play a disruptive role on the world stage. Both Beijing and Moscow have invested heavily in efforts meant to check U.S. strengths and prevent us from defending our interests and allies around the world.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           - President Joseph R. Biden, Interim National Security Guidance, March 2021

Welcome to Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition

This is a unique course. We offer the combination of reading, lectures and guest speakers seen in traditional policy courses, however, this is an experiential policy class. The material we offer explores how new technologies pose challenges and create opportunities for the United States to compete with rivals in the international system with a focus on strategic competition with the People's Republic of China. YWith the small team you will form, you will embark on a quarter-long project that will get you out of the classroom to identify a priority national security challenge. Your team will  validate the problem and propose a detailed solution, which will be tested against actual stakeholders in the technology and national security ecosystem.

Explore the Problems

Why We're Teaching this Class Now

The years following the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War are often referred to as America’s “unipolar moment” with the U.S. enjoying global dominance measured across all indices of national power. Since then, rival great powers like China and Russia have sought to undermine the U.S. led international order through deliberate and concerted whole of government efforts aimed at leveling the playing field with the U.S. and, wherever possible, tilting it to their advantage.

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