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.
Brazil’s Election Won’t Fix What’s Broken
English Summary
The article argues that Brazil's upcoming election, regardless of the outcome, will fail to restore its global influence or foreign policy autonomy. This weakness stems from deep domestic institutional failures, including mounting fiscal constraints, endemic corruption (particularly within the judiciary), and political fragmentation that undermines the state's credibility. Consequently, foreign partners view Brazil as a high-risk environment, leading to increased demands for investment guarantees and reducing the country's ability to act as a unified, reliable global player. For Brazil to leverage its vast geopolitical assets, it requires fundamental domestic reforms in governance and fiscal stability, rather than merely changing political leadership.
中文摘要
本文論述，巴西即將到來的選舉，無論結果如何，都無法恢復其全球影響力或外交自主性。其根本弱點源於深層的國內制度性缺陷，包括不斷累積的財政限制、普遍的腐敗（特別是司法部門），以及損害國家信譽的政治碎片化。因此，外國夥伴將巴西視為高風險環境，導致對投資擔保的需求增加，並削弱了該國作為統一、可靠全球參與者的能力。若要讓巴西發揮其巨大的地緣政治資產，它需要的不是僅僅更換政治領導層，而是必須進行治理和財政穩定方面的根本性國內改革。
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