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.
Europe Should Center Anti-Corruption in Its Democratic Resilience Efforts
English Summary
The article argues that corruption is the primary corrosive agent undermining democratic resilience across Europe, leading to widespread public distrust in institutions and elected officials. This systemic abuse of power severs accountability between citizens and governments, enabling illiberal actors and threatening both economic stability and national security. To restore faith in democracy, EU member states must adopt a holistic anti-corruption strategy that goes beyond mere elections. Key policy recommendations include fully enforcing the new Anti-Corruption Directive, strengthening judicial independence to prosecute high-level officials, and mandating transparency in political donations.
中文摘要
本文論述腐敗是削弱歐洲民主韌性（democratic resilience）的主要侵蝕力量，導致公眾對制度和民選官員普遍失去信任。這種系統性的權力濫用切斷了公民與政府之間的問責機制，助長了非自由主義行為者（illiberal actors），並威脅到經濟穩定和國家安全。為恢復對民主的信心，歐盟成員國必須採取一套超越單純選舉層面的全面性反腐策略。關鍵政策建議包括：全面執行新的《反腐敗指令》（Anti-Corruption Directive）、強化司法獨立以追訴高層官員，以及強制要求政治捐款透明化。
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.