Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has maintained sole superpower status by underwriting the international security order. But in recent years, the United States has begun to question whether the costs of providing international security outweigh the benefits it receives. At the same time, China has unveiled its own global security initiatives, possibly stepping in to fill in the gap left by a retreating United States.

In this episode of Talking Policy, host Lindsay Shingler is joined by Sheena (Chestnut) Greitens, associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, about China’s global aims and whether the country might challenge the United States as global security superpower. Greitens explores whether we are moving from a U.S.-led global order to a Chinese one—or are instead heading toward a more fragmented, leaderless world.

This episode was recorded on September 15, 2025. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.