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 Myth of Eurasia
English Summary
The article critiques the concept of 'Eurasianism,' arguing that while Russia uses this narrative to define itself as a unique civilization distinct from the West, this framework is an oversimplification. It notes that Russian leaders draw parallels between their state structure and historical steppe empires (like the Ottomans or Qing), which helps justify rejecting Western liberal norms. However, the analysis cautions against reducing complex modern behavior solely to shared imperial history or rigid East/West binaries. Policymakers should therefore avoid viewing Russia's actions through a single historical lens, recognizing that its political motivations are rooted in both deep-seated non-Western traditions and contemporary geopolitical ambitions.
中文摘要
本文批判了「歐亞主義」的概念，指出儘管俄羅斯利用此敘事將自身定義為一個區別於西方的獨特文明，但這種框架過於簡化。文章提到，俄羅斯領導人經常將其國家結構與歷史上的草原帝國（如鄂圖曼或清朝）進行類比，以此來合理化拒絕西方自由主義規範的行為。然而，分析警告說，不應僅將複雜的現代行為歸因於共同的帝國歷史或僵化的東/西二元對立。因此，政策制定者應避免單一地透過歷史視角看待俄羅斯的行動，而必須認識到其政治動機根植於深層次的非西方傳統和當代的地緣政治雄心結合體系。
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