Power, Terror, Peace, and War

1. America's post-9/11 foreign policy shift: From Fordism to millennial capitalism

"Not even the most committed defenders of the Bush administration try very hard to justify the series of policy missteps and missed opportunities that marked the early months of the coalition presence in Iraq."

Fordism to millennial capitalism. The United States underwent a significant transformation in its economic and foreign policy approach after 9/11. This shift marked the end of the Fordist era, characterized by mass production, mass consumption, and a regulated economy, and the rise of millennial capitalism, which emphasizes deregulation, globalization, and increased competition.

Key changes:

• Abandonment of the "harmonic convergence" vision of global cooperation
• Increased emphasis on unilateral action and military power
• Shift away from Europe-centric foreign policy towards a focus on the Middle East and Asia
• Rise of neoconservative influence in shaping foreign policy decisions

These changes resulted in a more assertive and controversial American foreign policy, leading to both opportunities and challenges in the global arena.

2. The four pillars of American power: Sharp, sticky, sweet, and hegemonic

"Like the kinds of national social orders that Gramsci and his heirs analyzed, the international order that the United States has built since World War II is stronger, more effective, and less vulnerable to the degree that people around the world consent to it and consider this order to be legitimate and inevitable."

Four types of power. American power in the world operates through four distinct but interconnected forms:

1. Sharp power: Military strength and the ability to project force globally
2. Sticky power: Economic influence through trade, investment, and financial systems
3. Sweet power: Cultural attractiveness and the appeal of American values and ideals
4. Hegemonic power: The ability to shape global norms and institutions

These forms of power work synergistically to maintain American dominance in the international system. However, the transition to millennial capitalism has strengthened America's hard power (sharp and sticky) while potentially weakening its soft power (sweet and hegemonic).

3. The decline of Fordism and the rise of anti-American sentiment globally

"What was happening was not simply that an abrasive Bush administration was needlessly antagonizing otherwise loyal and friendly allies. That was certainly part of the story, but beyond this the aftermath of September 11 was demonstrating in no uncertain terms that the American project was no longer as popular in the world as it had once been."

Growing global resentment. The shift from Fordism to millennial capitalism has led to increased resentment towards the United States in many parts of the world. This is due to several factors:

• Economic disruption caused by rapid globalization and deregulation
• Perception of American unilateralism and disregard for international institutions
• Cultural backlash against perceived American values and influence
• Disappointment with the results of American-led economic reforms in developing countries

This rise in anti-American sentiment has complicated U.S. foreign policy efforts and reduced America's ability to build international coalitions and consensus.

4. Bush administration's foreign policy: Successes and failures in a new era

"The Bush administration recognized and vigorously responded to the greatest security challenge the United States faced since the height of the Cold War. It successfully launched a counterattack against Al-Qaeda centers in Afghanistan; by removing Saddam Hussein it lanced a boil that was infecting the entire region and created an opportunity for a new and more stable future in the region."

Mixed record. The Bush administration's foreign policy had both successes and significant failures:

Successes:

• Decisive response to the 9/11 attacks
• Removal of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan
• Overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq
• Improved relations with China and India

Failures:

• Inadequate planning for post-war Iraq
• Alienation of traditional European allies
• Damage to America's global image and soft power
• Overreliance on military solutions to complex problems

The administration's approach, while addressing immediate security concerns, often failed to consider long-term consequences and global perceptions.

5. The war on terror: A strategy of forward containment

"Just as we resisted the Soviet Union's efforts to spread communism, we must now resist every effort of Arabian Fascism and related movements to establish political control over any states anywhere in the world."

Forward containment strategy. The author proposes a strategy of "forward containment" to combat terrorism and "Arabian Fascism":

1. Aggressive pursuit of terrorist organizations and their supporters
2. Cutting links between terrorist groups and state sponsors
3. Countering the ideology of extremism through cultural and intellectual engagement
4. Preventing the establishment of extremist governments

This approach adapts the Cold War containment strategy to the new realities of global terrorism, emphasizing both military action and ideological struggle.

6. Addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: A new approach to peace

"It is time to begin to turn this from empty words to the real prospect that a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine would bring concrete, substantial justice and benefits to the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian population."

Innovative peace approach. The author proposes a new strategy for addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

1. Focus on improving the lives of individual Palestinians rather than just territorial issues
2. Create an international compensation fund for displaced Palestinians and Israelis
3. Encourage economic development and access to finance in Palestinian areas
4. Involve regional and international partners in the peace process

This approach aims to create tangible benefits for Palestinians, potentially reducing support for extremism and creating a more favorable environment for peace negotiations.

7. Reconstructing the American project: Adapting to millennial capitalism

"The American task in coming years, I think, will be a different one: to build a new version of the old American system that is not only compatible with millennial political economy, but also derives new vigor and strength from it."

Adapting American leadership. The United States must reconstruct its global leadership role to align with the realities of millennial capitalism:

• Embrace the decentralization and individualism of the new economic order
• Develop new forms of engagement with a more diverse and interconnected world
• Address the negative consequences of economic disruption and inequality
• Maintain core American interests while adapting to new global power dynamics

This reconstruction requires balancing the benefits of millennial capitalism with the need for global stability and cooperation.

8. Global governance reform: Reshaping international institutions for a new world order

"Given these realities, the United States should support an expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council to reflect the realities of today's world."

Reforming global institutions. The author advocates for significant reforms to global governance structures:

UN Security Council reform:

• Expand permanent membership to include countries like India, Japan, Brazil, and African nations
• Reduce European overrepresentation

Promotion of regional institutions:

• Support the development of regional organizations like the African Union and ASEAN
• Encourage regional solutions to regional problems

These reforms aim to create a more representative and effective global governance system that can better address 21st-century challenges.

9. Revitalizing American soft power in the millennial capitalist era

"When I think about the future of American soft power, I think about global finance turned to meeting human needs, and about Khayelitsa, and Rozina in Rio de Janeiro, and Ebute Metta outside Lagos."

Harnessing millennial capitalism. To revitalize American soft power, the U.S. should leverage the strengths of millennial capitalism to address global challenges:

• Use financial innovation to provide access to credit and mortgages in developing countries
• Encourage American companies to invest in solutions for global poverty and development
• Promote entrepreneurship and small business growth in underserved communities worldwide
• Lead in developing technological solutions to global problems

By demonstrating the positive potential of millennial capitalism, the United States can rebuild its global image and create new forms of influence in the developing world.

Last updated: November 24, 2024