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.
India, the United States, and Democratic Values in the International Order
English Summary
The article argues that the U.S.-India partnership should shift its focus from judging each country's domestic democratic performance to jointly championing democratic norms within the global international order. While strategic convergence (especially concerning China) remains the primary driver, the U.S. must recognize that India's engagement is rooted in self-interest and multialignment, not ideology. Policy should therefore guide the U.S. to work with India's efforts to democratize global governance structures, particularly in technology and security architecture. This approach allows the U.S. to leverage India's unique position to build a democratic alternative to authoritarian models without creating bilateral friction.
中文摘要
本文論述美印夥伴關係應將重點從評斷各自國家的國內民主表現，轉向共同倡導和推動全球國際秩序中的民主規範。雖然戰略趨同（特別是針對中國）仍是主要驅動力，但美國必須認識到，印度參與的基礎是其自身利益和多邊結盟，而非單一意識形態。因此，政策應引導美國與印度合作，共同努力民主化全球治理結構，尤其是在技術和安全架構領域。此種方法使美國能夠利用印度的獨特地位，在不產生雙邊摩擦的前提下，建立一個民主的替代模式，以對抗威權主義模式。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.