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.
A Democratic Reckoning in India
English Summary
The article argues that India's democracy faces a significant internal reckoning, fueled by mass protests and a crisis of confidence in key institutions like the Election Commission and the examination system. The protests, largely driven by young citizens, challenge the authority of Prime Minister Modi, who has centralized power, by highlighting perceived irregularities in electoral rolls and academic processes. For policymakers, this signals that while Modi's grip on power remains strong, his authority is becoming less absolute, suggesting that future policy must account for a rising, digitally-empowered, and highly critical youth demographic that demands greater democratic transparency and accountability.
中文摘要
本文論述印度民主正經歷一次重大的內部檢視，其推動力來自大規模的抗議活動，以及對選舉委員會和考試系統等關鍵機構信心危機。這些抗議活動主要由年輕公民發起，透過指出選民名冊和學術流程中存在的疑似不正規現象，挑戰了實行權力集中的莫迪總理的權威。對於政策制定者而言，這表明儘管莫迪對權力的掌控依然穩固，但其權威性正逐漸失去絕對性。這暗示著未來政策必須考量一個日益壯大、掌握數位工具且高度批判的青年群體，該群體要求更高的民主透明度和問責制。
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