Social scientists might ask if the argument of this book is “falsifiable.” In other words, how would we know if it is wrong? The answer is simple. The argument of this book will be proven wrong if the United States is surpassed as the clear global leader by an autocratic country, such as China. To accomplish this feat, China would need to come to possess more global economic and military power than the United States, be in a position to set the rules that govern the international system, and sustain this position for an enduring period of time.
