The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
How I Got My Career in Foreign Policy: Sebastian Mallaby
English Summary
Sebastian Mallaby, a senior fellow at CFR, reflects on his career trajectory from international journalism to think tank work, shaped by his diplomatic family background and postings across the Soviet Union, Africa, and Asia. Drawing from his experience covering major events like the end of apartheid and Nelson Mandela's release, he emphasizes how curiosity about what makes countries prosperous and peaceful drives meaningful foreign policy work. Mallaby advises aspiring foreign policy professionals to consider diverse institutional platforms—including academia, multinational corporations, and think tanks—recognizing that traditional journalism faces technological disruption while institutions like CFR provide sustained support for deep policy analysis and intellectual leadership.
中文摘要
美國外交關係協會(CFR)資深研究員塞巴斯蒂安·馬拉比(Sebastian Mallaby)回顧了自己從國際新聞工作到智庫工作的職業軌跡，該軌跡受到其外交官家庭背景以及在蘇聯、非洲和亞洲各地任職經歷的塑造。基於他報導種族隔離制度終結和納爾遜·曼德拉獲釋等重大事件的經驗，他強調了對國家繁榮與和平因素的好奇心如何推動有意義的外交政策工作。馬拉比建議有志於從事外交政策工作的專業人士考慮多元化的機構平台——包括學術界、跨國公司和智庫——同時認識到傳統新聞業面臨技術顛覆，而美國外交關係協會等機構為深入的政策分析和智識領導提供持續支持。
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