The Holiday from History Is Over
Brendan Simms' book, The Return of Great Powers, critiques the post-Cold War era's assumption of a peaceful global order. He argues that the West's neglect of hard power has led to a resurgence of geopolitical tensions among major states. Simms emphasizes the importance of understanding historical power dynamics to navigate the current international landscape.
- ▪Brendan Simms' book examines five centuries of Great Power conflict and critiques the post-Cold War era's false sense of security.
- ▪He argues that the West's focus on economic cooperation over military might has emboldened rivals.
- ▪Simms highlights the return to a Great Power system where military strength is prioritized over economic and legal considerations.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The Holiday from History Is OverAnd the great powers are back.Brian StewartMay 29, 2026Share(Photo illustration by The Bulwark / Photos: Shutterstock)The Return of the Great Powersby Brendan SimmsBasic Books, 480 pp., $32BY NOW IT’S CLEAR THAT THE INTERLUDE of relative peace, prosperity, and democratization (for most of the world) that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union was not the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, but a short blip in which the gears of global history briefly slipped.With his meticulous new book, The Return of Great Powers, Brendan Simms arrives as the stoic chronicler of the post–Cold War false dawn, and of the grim realities of power that confront us anew.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Bulwark.
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