What a terrific piece, Laura. Your ability to seamlessly integrate scholarship with political nous is a joy to behold. And to do it so lucidly simply puts icing on the cake. It’s difficult not to wax too lyrical, but this really is a must read article for anyone interested in current affairs, but more specifically for those who profess to have the ‘correct’ understand contemporary politics but are actually drunk on Western narratives
Thank you, David, for taking the time to read it. In times when attention is such a scarce commodity and people skim information torrents without paying attention to anything in particular, discerning readers have become a dying breed.
Ich würde eindringlich Abstand nehmen, von der Vorstellung, es würde hier eine multipolare Weltordnung entstehen. Das ist die Krönung der kognitiven Kriegsführung und ein Elend, dass dieser Begriff unreflektiert überall nachgeplappert wird. Eine nicht definierte multipolare Weltordnung steht im Widerspruch mit den aktuellen globalen Besitzverhältnissen. Somit bleibt es unipolar, man verschiebt den Hegemon. Mehr nicht.
Outstanding. I don't think I have read such a balanced and insightful analysis on China-US relationship for a long time.
One of China's weaknesses that can cause unexpected failures of China's extreme nationalism (which encourages and justifies the sacrifices of the individuals) is the low morality in the communist regime. Lack of civic virtue and personal morality do not mechanically show up in any statistics of GDP, projectible military power, etc. But it can make an otherwise very solid shell somewhat brittle. There are many different ways to explore this weakness, none honorable, but the USA has been fairly good at using such tricks. Both the USA and Communist China are on their way down, which one will go humpty-dumpty first is not obvious. I agree with the author that the domestic problems inside the USA greatly hamper DJT admin's competitive advantages (if any) against China. 120 years ago, another "Western" power sent a big fleet to the Far East to teach a lesson to a newly rising Asian nation. The result was disastrous and likely seeded the demise of this "Western" power. The USA will be wise to pick the proper arenas for competitions against China. However, a "showdown" could have an equally disastrous result. Defense is the stronger form of war. So far, China has avoided direct military confrontation and favors asymmetric yet total war. The Ukraine War has shown the bites of the American tiger are not as sharp as advertised.
For Italian speakers, the article has just been published here https://www.lantidiplomatico.it/dettnews-leffetto_maga_sulle_relazioni_usacina_cresce_lambiguit_strategica/5871_59336/
What a terrific piece, Laura. Your ability to seamlessly integrate scholarship with political nous is a joy to behold. And to do it so lucidly simply puts icing on the cake. It’s difficult not to wax too lyrical, but this really is a must read article for anyone interested in current affairs, but more specifically for those who profess to have the ‘correct’ understand contemporary politics but are actually drunk on Western narratives
Thank you, David, for taking the time to read it. In times when attention is such a scarce commodity and people skim information torrents without paying attention to anything in particular, discerning readers have become a dying breed.
Thank you very much This is an informative and exceptional excellent essay. I appreciate that you took the time to make it available for my perusal.
Grande imperdibile analisi! Grazie Laura!
Ich würde eindringlich Abstand nehmen, von der Vorstellung, es würde hier eine multipolare Weltordnung entstehen. Das ist die Krönung der kognitiven Kriegsführung und ein Elend, dass dieser Begriff unreflektiert überall nachgeplappert wird. Eine nicht definierte multipolare Weltordnung steht im Widerspruch mit den aktuellen globalen Besitzverhältnissen. Somit bleibt es unipolar, man verschiebt den Hegemon. Mehr nicht.
Outstanding. I don't think I have read such a balanced and insightful analysis on China-US relationship for a long time.
One of China's weaknesses that can cause unexpected failures of China's extreme nationalism (which encourages and justifies the sacrifices of the individuals) is the low morality in the communist regime. Lack of civic virtue and personal morality do not mechanically show up in any statistics of GDP, projectible military power, etc. But it can make an otherwise very solid shell somewhat brittle. There are many different ways to explore this weakness, none honorable, but the USA has been fairly good at using such tricks. Both the USA and Communist China are on their way down, which one will go humpty-dumpty first is not obvious. I agree with the author that the domestic problems inside the USA greatly hamper DJT admin's competitive advantages (if any) against China. 120 years ago, another "Western" power sent a big fleet to the Far East to teach a lesson to a newly rising Asian nation. The result was disastrous and likely seeded the demise of this "Western" power. The USA will be wise to pick the proper arenas for competitions against China. However, a "showdown" could have an equally disastrous result. Defense is the stronger form of war. So far, China has avoided direct military confrontation and favors asymmetric yet total war. The Ukraine War has shown the bites of the American tiger are not as sharp as advertised.
A well thought out, intelligent piece. Thank you.