Podcast: Doubled Rooks? The U.S.-Philippine Alliance in Historical Context

The “Asia Chessboard” features in-depth conversations with the most prominent strategic thinkers on Asia. CSIS Senior Vice President for Asia and former senior national security council official Michael Green takes the debate beyond the headlines of the day to explore the historical context and inside decision-making process on major geopolitical developments from the Himalayas to the South China Sea. Experience the hard calls and consequential debates that drive US policy towards this critical region of the world.

On this week’s episode, Mike is joined by Chris Capozzola, Professor of History at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to discuss his new book on the history of U.S.-Philippines relations, Bound by War. The two discuss the importance of history for informing grand strategy, and what lessons we can learn from the 1900s, which Dr. Capozzola argues is the "original" Asian century. Dr. Capozzola starts with the strategic significance of the United States and the Philippines to one another, highlighting the geographic location of the Philippines. He goes on to explain the binational history between the two countries and how they have shaped one another. What are the strengths and weaknesses within the relationship, and how can understanding history help the United States build a platform for more strategic dialogue with the Philippines moving forward?

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