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.
The Age of Kleptocracy
English Summary
The analysis of modern global power dynamics reveals significant difficulty in characterizing the foreign policy of key actors, such as Donald Trump, challenging traditional frameworks like liberal internationalism or pure realism. Initial interpretations often relied on the concept of 'great-power competition' to rationalize maneuvers, but recent evidence suggests a shift toward great powers colluding to carve up the world into distinct spheres of influence. This ambiguity signals a move away from predictable, rules-based order toward a more fragmented and unpredictable geopolitical landscape. Policymakers must therefore adjust strategies to account for this non-traditional, great-power competition and the resulting instability in global governance.
中文摘要
對現代全球權力動態的分析顯示，難以準確界定主要行為者（例如唐納德·川普）的外交政策，這挑戰了自由國際主義或純粹現實主義等傳統框架。最初的解讀常依賴「大國競爭」的概念來合理化各方行動，但近期的證據顯示，局勢正轉向大國串聯，意圖將世界劃分為各自的勢力範圍。這種模糊性標誌著全球秩序正從可預測的、基於規則的體系，轉向一個更碎片化、更不可預測的地緣政治格局。因此，政策制定者必須調整策略，以應對這種非傳統的大國競爭及其導致的全球治理不穩定性。
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.