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.
Europe’s Credibility Gap
English Summary
The article argues that Europe's global credibility is severely undermined by its continued strategic dependence on the United States, despite recent efforts toward self-sufficiency. While the EU has shown initiative—such as establishing large defense loan schemes and finalizing major trade agreements—its security planning, technology, and economic stability remain reliant on American capabilities and markets. For Europe to present a compelling offer to global partners, it must overcome persistent internal fragmentation and bureaucratic indecision. Ultimately, the continent must build a comprehensive foreign policy package grounded in its own collective capabilities, rather than relying on the fluctuating leadership of the United States.
中文摘要
本文論點指出，儘管歐盟近年來已展現出追求自給自足的努力，但其持續對美國的戰略依賴，嚴重削弱了其全球信譽。雖然歐盟已主動推動諸如設立大型國防貸款計劃和敲定重大貿易協定等舉措，但其安全規劃、技術能力和經濟穩定性仍高度仰賴美國的能力和市場。若想向全球夥伴提出具吸引力的方案，歐洲必須克服持續存在的內部碎片化和官僚猶豫。最終而言，大陸必須建立一套以自身集體能力為基礎的全面外交政策體系，而非持續依賴美國不穩定的領導力。
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.