Sleeping With the Enemy

Globalization promised stability and shared prosperity, but the reality has proved far more complicated. In Sleeping With the Enemy: What the White House Still Misses on China, Edouard Prisse examines the assumptions that guided Western engagement with China and asks how those assumptions reshaped the balance of global power.
Exposing the Illusions

The Story Behind Sleeping With the Enemy

For decades, political leaders, media outlets, and influential commentators promoted the belief that closer economic ties with China would benefit all sides and encourage political convergence. Yet as China’s economic and strategic power expanded, many of those assumptions proved increasingly difficult to sustain.

In Sleeping With the Enemy, Edouard Prisse revisits the decisions, predictions, and narratives that shaped Western policy toward China. The book examines how elite consensus formed, why warnings were often dismissed, and how claims of covert influence and misinformation efforts may have shaped public debate. In doing so, it challenges readers to reconsider the ideas that once seemed like common sense.

Who Should Read This Book?

Essential Reading For Leaders and Citizens

Sleeping With the Enemy by Edouard Prisse is written for readers seeking a deeper understanding of the forces shaping today’s geopolitical landscape.

Policymakers will find a critical examination of the ideas and assumptions that informed Western economic engagement with China. Business leaders will gain insight into the long-term implications of economic interdependence and strategic competition. Scholars and students will appreciate the book’s multidisciplinary perspective, which connects law, economics, and political analysis.

For general readers interested in globalization and international affairs, Prisse presents complex debates in a clear and engaging style. Serious in its implications yet accessible in its approach, Sleeping With the Enemy invites readers to rethink the policies and narratives that shaped the modern relationship between China and the West.

FAQ's

What is the main theme of Sleeping With the Enemy?

The book examines how Western policies, economic integration, and elite consensus contributed to China’s growing economic and strategic influence.

Who should read this book?

Policymakers, economists, business leaders, students of international relations and anyone concerned about global trade and China’s rise.

Does the book critique Western trade policy toward China?

Yes. The book examines the assumptions behind Western engagement with China and questions whether those policies adequately accounted for long-term strategic consequences.

Is the book academic or accessible to general readers?

The book engages serious policy questions but is written in a clear and accessible style suitable for both scholars and general readers.

Where can I buy the book?

Sleeping With the Enemy: What the White House Still Misses on China is available through major online booksellers, including Amazon.