In “A World in Disarray”. Richard Haas, former senior adviser to George Herbert Bush, Director of Policy Planning for Colin Powell, former president of the Council on Foreign Relations and author of nine books, explains how the world order that the U.S. successfully established in the post-war bi-polar world, is under challenge. While not yet in chaos, the world is in disarray and trending towards greater disorder.  Haas provides guidance on restoring order through what he calls “sovereign responsibility” as well as prescriptions for specific relationships (US/China, for example) and regions such as the Middle East. He is wise to both the dangers of over-reaching and inaction.
Archives for January 2018
Trump’s Protectionist Threat is a Threat to the US Economy
President Trump keeps on mentioning the surpluses or deficits that we have with specific trading partners. Recently he mentioned Norway’s prime minister that the US has a surplus with that country. He is disturbed with the deficit the US has with Mexico.  NAFTA negotiations are in danger as the US proposes unilateral terms that won’t be accepted by either Canada or Mexico.
Trump has threatened outright protectionism – tariffs or taxes reducing the flow of trade in order to erase deficits or increase surpluses.
Here is the problem with US protectionism: [Read more…] about Trump’s Protectionist Threat is a Threat to the US Economy
“The Populist Explosion”, by John B. Judis, explains politics since 2008
How do we explain voter discontent? Why did Bernie Sanders gain such popularity at the same time as Donald Trump?  What is different about one versus the other, and how can they both share the “populist” nomenclature? “The Populist Explosion”, by John B. Judis, published by Columbia Global Reports, provides an excellent framework and specific historical context for understanding the phenomenon of populism and its rise all over the world since the Great Recession of 2007.
Populism requires historical understanding because the rising up of “the people” versus the elite often embodies different specific policies and causes, depending on the times.  Populism is a “logic”, not a specific set of policies. The populist movements in US history see ordinary people as virtuous, and the elites as self-serving and undemocratic. [Read more…] about “The Populist Explosion”, by John B. Judis, explains politics since 2008