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About this talk

The Centre for Statecraft & National Security is excited to host Steve Feldstein for a talk on his new book, Bytes and Bullets: Global Rivalries, Private Tech and the Future of Modern Warfare. This analytically rich account examines how technology is upending global competition. The race to develop and acquire cutting-edge innovations is playing a major role in shaping how countries compete and wage war. Nations are pursuing strategies to subsidize new innovations while denying access to rivals, with the United States pursuing tech containment. However, history demonstrates it is exceedingly difficult to curb technological diffusion. China is already the world's leading manufacturing power with billions invested in capabilities. Middle-powers like Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates are also investing in tech capabilities for greater influence. Private companies like SpaceX and Microsoft have gained unprecedented sway historically reserved for nation-states, shaping diplomatic and military outcomes. The result is an intensifying global contest that will redefine the balance of power and international relations for decades to come.

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