Great Power Competition

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

The rivalrous interaction between the world's most powerful states — particularly the US, China, and Russia — for influence, resources, technological superiority, and control of the rules governing the international order

History and origin

Resurged as the central framing of US national security strategy from the 2017 National Security Strategy onward; echoes 19th and early 20th century great power rivalry

Examples

• The 2022 US National Defense Strategy identified great power competition with China as the defining challenge of the era.
• Great power competition has transformed trade, technology, and alliance politics in the Indo-Pacific.

Synonyms: strategic competition, superpower rivalry, power rivalry