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.
Two Books on the Future of Liberalism
English Summary
The debate over liberalism's future is sharply divided between two ideological poles. One current, characterized by 'postliberals,' argues that Western liberalism has failed because its universalist tenets—such as multiculturalism and free markets—clash with deeply held traditional, national, or tribal values. Conversely, other scholars argue that liberalism's foundational commitment to individual dignity and moral autonomy remains essential, tracing its intellectual roots to early Christian thought. Policymakers must therefore navigate a profound cultural backlash, addressing the rise of nationalist and anti-Enlightenment sentiments while simultaneously reinforcing the core principles of individual rights and open society.
中文摘要
關於自由主義未來性的辯論，目前在兩個意識形態極點之間呈現激烈分歧。一派學說，以「後自由主義者」（postliberals）為代表，認為西方自由主義的失敗，源於其普遍主義的信條——例如多元文化主義和自由市場——與深層的傳統、民族或部落價值觀產生衝突。相反地，另一批學者則主張，自由主義對個人尊嚴和道德自主性的根本承諾仍然至關重要，其思想根源可追溯至早期基督教思想。因此，政策制定者必須應對深刻的文化反動，同時處理民族主義和反啟蒙情緒的興起，並同步強化個人權利和開放社會的核心原則。
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