Chip War

Archival Summary & Scope

Microchip technology, the bedrock of modern military, economic, and geopolitical power, has become the world's most critical resource. From smartphones to missiles, nearly everything depends on semiconductors. Economic historian Chris Miller's *Chip War* delivers an epic account of the decades-long global struggle for control of this scarce resource, focusing on the intensifying conflict between the United States and China.

America's long-held technological lead, once the foundation of its superpower status, is now eroding. Competitors in Taiwan, Korea, and Europe, and above all, an ambitious China spending billions to bridge the gap, threaten U.S. dominance. Miller traces how America's mastery of chip design and manufacturing secured Cold War victory and global military superiority, while also detailing how key components of the chip-building process have slipped from its grasp. This shift contributes not only to a worldwide chip shortage but also fuels a new Cold War.

*Chip War* illuminates the vital role of semiconductors, arguing that understanding this technological battle is crucial to comprehending the current state of international politics, economics, and technology.