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.
The Doom Loop: Why the World Economic Order Is Spiraling Into Disorder
English Summary
The article argues that the global economic order is trapped in a "doom loop" polycrisis, driven by anti-globalization sentiment, democratic erosion, and intensifying geopolitical conflict. While acknowledging the structural tension between major powers like the US and China, the analysis highlights the growing influence of middle powers (e.g., India, Indonesia) in reshaping global trade and finance. To mitigate this decline, policy recommendations center on improving governance through greater government transparency and implementing robust social safety nets for displaced workers. Ultimately, breaking the cycle requires significant civic engagement and improved international leadership.
中文摘要
本文論述全球經濟秩序正陷入由反全球化情緒、民主衰退和日益加劇的地緣政治衝突所驅動的「惡性循環」複合式危機。雖然分析承認美國與中國等主要大國之間存在結構性張力，但該研究同時強調了中等強國（例如印度、印尼）在重塑全球貿易和金融體系方面影響力的日益增大。為緩解此一衰退趨勢，政策建議著重於透過提高政府透明度來改善治理，並為失業工人實施健全的社會安全網。最終而言，打破這一循環需要顯著的公民參與和國際領導力的提升。
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.