Best International Diplomacy Books of 2026

The Prince is a political treatise written by Niccolò Machiavelli. It serves as an instruction guide for new princes and royals, outlining that the ends justify the means. The book discusses how immoral means can be used to achieve aims of glory and survival. The Prince is a must-read for individuals interested in international diplomacy as it provides insights into the mindset of politicians and leaders. The book is unique as it is still relevant in modern-day politics. Overall, The Prince is an insightful and thought-provoking read.

When China Attacks: A Warning to America is a thought-provoking book that portrays China as an existential threat to America. Col. Grant Newsham, a veteran intelligence officer, provides a well-founded and frightening account of China's growing military skills, intellectual property theft, and influence among American elites. The book highlights the covert war that China has been waging on America and its allies, which could soon erupt into an open conflict with devastating consequences. This book is a must-read for policymakers, military strategists, and anyone interested in international diplomacy and security.

The New Makers of Modern Strategy: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age is a comprehensive resource on military and political strategy that provides a global and comparative perspective on strategic thought from antiquity to the present day. It features entirely new entries by world-class scholars, focusing on classical and current themes of strategy. The book draws vital lessons from history's most influential strategists and evaluates the timeless requirements of effective strategy while tracing the revolutionary changes that challenge the makers of strategy in the contemporary world. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in military strategy history.

The Hundred-Year Marathon by Michael Pillsbury is a revealing book on China's secret strategy to replace America as the world's leading superpower. Pillsbury, a leading China expert, offers an inside look at how the Chinese view America and its leaders and how the US government has unwittingly helped China achieve its goals. The book is based on interviews with Chinese defectors and newly declassified national security documents. Pillsbury calls for a new, more competitive strategy toward China, as it really is, and not as we might wish it to be. The book is a wake-up call to the greatest national security challenge of the twenty-first century.

Red-Handed by Peter Schweizer is a #1 New York Times bestseller that reveals how American elites have helped China build its military, technological, and economic power. Schweizer exposes secret deals made by presidential families, Silicon Valley gurus, Wall Street high rollers, Ivy League universities, and even professional athletes to sacrifice American strength and security for personal enrichment. The author's year-long research, combined with forensic investigation, uncovers the nexus of power between the Chinese government and American elites. The book is a chilling account of the alarming findings and the bad actors on both ends of the political spectrum. It is a must-read for those concerned about national security and foreign interference.

Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer is an epic, Pulitzer Prize-winning book that covers Cuba's complex relationship with the United States from Columbus's arrival to the present day. Ferrer provides a detailed account of Cuba's evolution, including colonization, slavery, independence, and revolution, while also exploring the country's recurring presence in US affairs. This book offers insight into the history of both nations and encourages readers to imagine a new relationship with Cuba. The book is well-written, informative, and a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Cuba and its ties to the United States.

The book "Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China" by Hal Brands and Michael Beckley is a thought-provoking analysis of the rivalry between the US and China. The authors challenge the conventional wisdom that the competition between the two nations will last for a century and instead suggest that it will reach its moment of maximum danger in the 2020s. The book provides a historical perspective and argues that China's rising power will make it more aggressive during this decade. The authors suggest that America needs a near-term strategy for navigating this danger zone. Overall, this book is an excellent read for anyone interested in international diplomacy and the future of US-China relations.

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power by Daniel Yergin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning book that provides a comprehensive history of the global pursuit of oil, money, and power. The book explores the economic and political clashes over oil, from the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through to the present day climate change issue. With great insight and research, Yergin offers a unique perspective on the ongoing energy crisis and how oil continues to fuel global rivalries, shape the world economy, and transform the destiny of men and nations. The Prize is a must-read for anyone interested in the role of oil in modern history.

The Strategy of Denial by Elbridge A. Colby is a Wall Street Journal best book of 2021 that offers a clear framework on how America's defense strategy must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Colby, the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, provides a realistic and practical approach for the United States to prepare for a war with China. This book is a rigorous but compelling reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, and it deserves a place in the library of anyone interested in Asian politics and U.S. defense policy.