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 Great Global Transformation: The United States, China, and the Remaking of the World Economic Order
English Summary
The analysis argues that global neoliberalism has fundamentally reshaped the world order by creating a tension between China's economic rise, the Western elite's prosperity, and widespread populist backlash. This transformation is rooted in the fact that globalization, while lifting millions out of poverty, caused job losses in the West, a disparity highlighted by the 2008 financial crisis. The resulting international framework is characterized as "national market liberalism," a hybrid regime. This system features increased protectionism and state intervention in international relations, even as national policies attempt to maintain market-based principles.
中文摘要
本分析指出，全球新自由主義已透過創造一個張力——即中國的經濟崛起、西方精英的繁榮，以及普遍的民粹主義反彈——從根本上重塑了世界秩序。這種轉變的根源在於，全球化雖然使數百萬人擺脫了貧困，卻導致了西方國家的失業，而2008年金融危機凸顯了這種不平等。由此形成的國際框架被描述為「國家市場自由主義」，這是一種混合體制。該體系特點是，儘管各國政策試圖維持市場基礎原則，但在國際關係中卻呈現出保護主義和國家干預的加劇。
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.