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.
Can the United States Lead Through Transactional Foreign Policy?
English Summary
The article argues that the United States' shift toward a transactional foreign policy is dismantling the stable, post-World War II global order. This instability is evident across multiple theaters, including Europe, which is questioning U.S. support, and the Middle East, which faces significant economic spillovers. Global rivalries, such as those concerning AI and Taiwan, further complicate cooperation, suggesting that established alliances are under severe strain. Policymakers must prepare for a complex and 'messy' future order, requiring flexible coalition-building and new diplomatic models rather than relying on traditional great power structures.
中文摘要
本文論述美國轉向交易性外交政策，正在瓦解戰後穩定、既有的全球秩序。這種不穩定性在多個戰場顯而易見，包括正在質疑美國支持的歐洲，以及面臨重大經濟溢出效應的中東地區。全球競爭，例如圍繞人工智慧和台灣的競爭，進一步複雜化了合作，顯示既有聯盟正承受極大壓力。政策制定者必須為一個複雜且「混亂」的未來秩序做好準備，這要求建立靈活的聯盟和新的外交模式，而非依賴傳統的大國結構。
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