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.
India After the Liberal Order
English Summary
The article argues that the U.S.-India partnership is transitioning from one based on shared liberal ideals to one defined by transactional necessity, a shift validated by the U.S.'s retreat from multilateral norms. India's historical skepticism of Western-led institutions has found renewed justification as the U.S. dismantles the global order it once championed. Consequently, the relationship is becoming highly focused on bilateral cooperation in critical domains, such as defense, supply chain resilience, and frontier technologies. Policymakers must recognize that the future is a 'patchwork' of smaller, transactional orders, requiring strategic alignment on shared threats (like China) rather than adherence to universal rules.
中文摘要
本文論述美印夥伴關係正從基於共同自由主義理想的基礎，轉向由交易性需求所定義的模式。美國從多邊規範中退縮的行為，驗證了這一轉變。隨著美國瓦解其曾倡導的全球秩序，印度對西方主導機構的歷史性懷疑也找到了新的合理性。因此，雙邊關係正高度聚焦於防禦、供應鏈韌性及前沿技術等關鍵領域的合作。政策制定者必須認識到，未來將是一個「碎片化」的、由小型交易性秩序組成的格局，這要求雙方應針對共同威脅（如中國）進行戰略協調，而非拘泥於普遍的規則。
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.