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.
Are Gen Z’s calls for change being heard?
English Summary
Global youth activism, driven by widespread calls for change against corruption and inequality, has reached unprecedented levels across multiple continents. A Chatham House survey of over 160 young people confirms that Gen Z remains highly politically engaged and maintains a persistent hope for influencing global policy, despite recognizing significant risks. This sustained political energy indicates that youth demands are now a critical factor in assessing regional stability and governance legitimacy. Policymakers must therefore adapt to incorporate these organized voices into policy dialogue rather than treating them merely as sources of unrest.
中文摘要
全球青年行動，源於對抗腐敗和不平等的廣泛呼聲，已跨越多個大洲達到前所未有的水平。一項針對超過160名年輕人的查塔姆學會（Chatham House）調查證實，即使意識到重大風險，Z世代仍保持高度的政治參與度，並對影響全球政策抱持著持續的希望。這種持久的政治能量表明，青年群體的訴求現已成為評估區域穩定性和治理合法性的關鍵因素。因此，政策制定者必須調整策略，將這些有組織的聲音納入政策對話中，而非僅將其視為動亂的來源。
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