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.
After the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World
English Summary
The article argues that the current crisis in liberal democracies is not inevitable but stems from Western elites mismanaging post-Cold War opportunities. Key failures cited include mishandling the transition after the Soviet collapse, destabilizing regions through interventions (e.g., Iraq/Afghanistan), and failing to prevent economic disillusionment following crises like 2008. This mismanagement has allowed populist movements to erode trust in mainstream institutions. To stabilize democratic order, Western powers must fundamentally reimagine the liberal project by renegotiating a social contract that guarantees widespread economic security and opportunity for all citizens.
中文摘要
本文論述當前自由民主體制所面臨的危機並非必然，而是源於西方精英在後冷戰時期錯失或誤用機遇。文章指出數個關鍵失敗點：包括處理蘇聯解體後的過渡期不當、透過干預行動（例如伊拉克/阿富汗）導致地區不穩定，以及未能有效阻止2008年等危機後產生的經濟幻滅感。這種管理上的失誤使得民粹主義運動得以侵蝕主流機構的信任基礎。為穩定民主秩序，西方國家必須從根本上重塑自由主義進程（liberal project），重新協商一份社會契約，確保所有公民都能獲得普遍的經濟安全與發展機遇。
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