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 Pan-American Highway
English Summary
New analyses of the Pan-American Highway reveal that while early construction was fueled by American visions of regional modernity and profit, its completion remains stalled due to geopolitical fears. The primary obstacle, the Darién Gap, is not merely geographical but a flashpoint where governments fear improved passage will trigger massive migration surges. Policy implications center on balancing economic connectivity with border security; critics argue that U.S. policies exacerbate humanitarian crises by criminalizing migration and failing to address the root causes of movement through this dangerous corridor.
中文摘要
對泛美公路的新分析顯示，儘管其早期建設受到美國推動區域現代化和獲利的願景所驅動，但其竣工仍因地緣政治的恐懼而停滯。主要的障礙——達里恩峽谷（Darién Gap）——不僅是地理上的問題，更是一個敏感的衝突熱點，各國政府擔心改善通道將引發大規模的人口遷移潮。政策層面的啟示集中在如何在經濟互聯性與邊境安全之間取得平衡；批評人士指出，美國的政策透過將移民行為刑事化，並未能解決此危險走廊背後根本的遷徙原因，從而加劇了人道危機。
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.