Thanks for this. It is enlightening. I do have one caveat to add, which that Trump may be acting alone. but he has many acolytes who will do what they can to continue his policies after he leaves, including those that would smash the international order. We cannot know how much influence they will have, but Trumpism will long be with us in all its iconoclastic glory.
I agree with this analysis but why is GOP relentlessly pursuing these policies? What is in this for them? I think the reason is they want to protect the soaring income inequality by all means and therefore are manipulating the vast numbers of American have-nots to misdirect them and prevent them from focusing on the real cause of their plight - the national Olygarchy
All true. Russia is all over this place. They have a multi-decade clandestine program run by KGB, SVR and GRU to destroy America from within. Ambassador McFaul has a first hand knowledge of it. They have succeeded spectacularly and beyond their own expectations. The effort to change culture is underway. But why do they need to change culture? Partially, for irrational religious reasons, yes.. But this is a minority of actors. Trump is not religious. And the majority of GOP are not fanatics. But they know that religion is thebest method of mind control of the population. Lenin called it “opium for the masses”. This is why he destroyed it in Russia immediately after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution and replaced it with new Communist “religion” replacing “downer” (Christianity”) with the upper (“Communism ideal”) which was more useful for his purposes of quickly building a powerful industrial state.
Re this: “America’s current retreat from the rule-based international order is neither inevitable nor the consequence of innate structural forces in the global balance of power. Rather, it is mostly driven by a single individual—Donald Trump.” Mr. Trump does not have absolute power. The U.S. is withdrawing from the rules-based international order because the Republican Party has been supporting all of his destructive behaviors, from international relations to the environment.
The Sec. General of NATO, Mark Rutte, said last week that the alliance couldn't defend Europe without US support. Not a great message to be sending to the entire world, especially the big bully to the north.
Rutte said this, and seemed to be behind the climb down on Greenland. Not sure what he promised Trump, but I have misgivings that he is the right person for head of the NATO alliance right now. Maybe it's posturing for the orange guy, but it doesn't play well outside of that single individual.
Mr. Trump is an old man. Once he leaves office will his political philosophy continue? Will Vance or Rubio be able to carry the MEGA movement? Additional, will the Republican Party retain majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate? What of State governments, which party will control these institutions? Just the rambling thoughts of an old hermit. (Hope I haven't upset anyone. )
In order to stave off critics of the western rules-based order, we need to get serious about reform. It's because reform has languished that we're able to see the rise of Trumpism which throws it out altogether. They see it as happening too slowly and therefore give up on it. Additionally, it seems naive and myopic to talk about the merits of the rules based order through a western lens when America probably should engage some societies and cultures completely anew to establish positive relationships rather than forcing them into an existing international framework. America's hypocrisy and heavy handed intervention (mixed results at best) - both militarily and through NGOs needs to be seriously dealt with before we are trusted again to even be the leader of democracies in the world.
The problem with globalism is that it is not principled enough. The fight is that, at the state level, we are trying to tip the scales toward constitutional republicanism. Us liberals are trying to apply our liberalism to economics. That is the whole fight. We are fighting the love of money.
Thanks for this. It is enlightening. I do have one caveat to add, which that Trump may be acting alone. but he has many acolytes who will do what they can to continue his policies after he leaves, including those that would smash the international order. We cannot know how much influence they will have, but Trumpism will long be with us in all its iconoclastic glory.
I agree with this analysis but why is GOP relentlessly pursuing these policies? What is in this for them? I think the reason is they want to protect the soaring income inequality by all means and therefore are manipulating the vast numbers of American have-nots to misdirect them and prevent them from focusing on the real cause of their plight - the national Olygarchy
All true. Russia is all over this place. They have a multi-decade clandestine program run by KGB, SVR and GRU to destroy America from within. Ambassador McFaul has a first hand knowledge of it. They have succeeded spectacularly and beyond their own expectations. The effort to change culture is underway. But why do they need to change culture? Partially, for irrational religious reasons, yes.. But this is a minority of actors. Trump is not religious. And the majority of GOP are not fanatics. But they know that religion is thebest method of mind control of the population. Lenin called it “opium for the masses”. This is why he destroyed it in Russia immediately after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution and replaced it with new Communist “religion” replacing “downer” (Christianity”) with the upper (“Communism ideal”) which was more useful for his purposes of quickly building a powerful industrial state.
And we’ve seen what happened to communism. In my opinion, forcing a national religion on Americans won’t
work.
🇨🇦 Trump will burn America to the ground before he gives up power. 🌏🌍🌎 Carney is Leader of the New World Order.
Thank You Michael ! Fact Based Information 👍 I Look Forward To Reading More ✌️🔥👍😉
Re this: “America’s current retreat from the rule-based international order is neither inevitable nor the consequence of innate structural forces in the global balance of power. Rather, it is mostly driven by a single individual—Donald Trump.” Mr. Trump does not have absolute power. The U.S. is withdrawing from the rules-based international order because the Republican Party has been supporting all of his destructive behaviors, from international relations to the environment.
The Sec. General of NATO, Mark Rutte, said last week that the alliance couldn't defend Europe without US support. Not a great message to be sending to the entire world, especially the big bully to the north.
Rutte said this, and seemed to be behind the climb down on Greenland. Not sure what he promised Trump, but I have misgivings that he is the right person for head of the NATO alliance right now. Maybe it's posturing for the orange guy, but it doesn't play well outside of that single individual.
At least Western Europe has fire in their belly, while the neo-fascists dither here in America
Mr. Trump is an old man. Once he leaves office will his political philosophy continue? Will Vance or Rubio be able to carry the MEGA movement? Additional, will the Republican Party retain majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate? What of State governments, which party will control these institutions? Just the rambling thoughts of an old hermit. (Hope I haven't upset anyone. )
Thanks for this, great read! (Feel free to check out my substack for all things international law!)
Excellent analysis!
In order to stave off critics of the western rules-based order, we need to get serious about reform. It's because reform has languished that we're able to see the rise of Trumpism which throws it out altogether. They see it as happening too slowly and therefore give up on it. Additionally, it seems naive and myopic to talk about the merits of the rules based order through a western lens when America probably should engage some societies and cultures completely anew to establish positive relationships rather than forcing them into an existing international framework. America's hypocrisy and heavy handed intervention (mixed results at best) - both militarily and through NGOs needs to be seriously dealt with before we are trusted again to even be the leader of democracies in the world.
Hope you are right
I think this would make a very good article, expanded a bit, for The Atlantic which would expand the exposure to these ideas.
The problem with globalism is that it is not principled enough. The fight is that, at the state level, we are trying to tip the scales toward constitutional republicanism. Us liberals are trying to apply our liberalism to economics. That is the whole fight. We are fighting the love of money.
“The old world is dying, the new world struggles to be born. Now is the time of monsters.” Antonio Gramsci