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.
What Do Americans Want From U.S. Foreign Policy? A Dispatch From Maricopa County, AZ
English Summary
The research finds that American support for U.S. global leadership is diminishing, requiring a 'right-sized' foreign policy that is domestically grounded. Local residents view global policy through the lens of immediate economic hardship, citing affordability issues (fuel, goods) and the negative impact of tariffs and conflicts. Key concerns include the perceived loss of global respect and the need for a rationalized approach to immigration. Therefore, sustained public support for U.S. global engagement hinges on the government successfully prioritizing and addressing these fundamental, 'kitchen-table' economic and social concerns.
中文摘要
研究指出，美國對美國全球領導力的支持正在減弱，這要求制定一項「規模適宜」且根植於國內基礎的外交政策。當地居民看待全球政策的角度，往往是透過眼前的經濟困境，他們提及了可負擔性問題（如燃料、商品），以及關稅和衝突帶來的負面衝擊。主要關切包括全球聲望的流失感，以及對移民問題理性化處理的需求。因此，美國持續獲得的全球參與支持，取決於政府能否成功地將這些根本性的、關乎「餐桌日常」的經濟和社會關切，提升至優先級並加以解決。
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