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 Trade Reduces the Risk of War
English Summary
The analysis argues that economic interdependence is a powerful stabilizing force, quantifying the 'peace dividend' generated by global trade. Key evidence shows that doubling bilateral trade reduces the probability of militarized conflict by approximately 30%, an effect measurable through 'natural experiments' like advances in aviation technology. Policymakers must integrate this security return into geopolitical planning, as current debates on decoupling and de-risking often overlook this quantifiable benefit. The authors warn that blanket efforts to limit integration risk incurring significant, uncounted security costs, suggesting that broad economic engagement is critical for maintaining stability.
中文摘要
本分析指出，經濟相互依賴是一種強大的穩定力量，並量化了全球貿易所產生的「和平紅利」。關鍵證據顯示，雙邊貿易翻倍可使軍事衝突的機率降低約30%，此種效應可透過航空技術進步等「自然實驗」進行衡量。政策制定者必須將此安全回報納入地緣政治規劃考量，因為當前關於「脫鉤」和「去風險化」的討論往往忽略了這一可量化的效益。作者警告，全面限制經濟整合的努力可能會招致重大且未計入的安全成本，因此，維持穩定性需要廣泛的經濟參與。
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