America Turning Inward

For John, BLUF:  In politics one needs to chase after the voters.  This article suggests the Democrats have something to learn by listening to Trump and his supporters.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Deep Roots of Trump’s Isolationism

Here is the sub-headline:

Democrats Need Their Own “America First” Agenda

From Foreign Affairs, by Prof Charles Kupchan, 9 September 2024.

Here is the lede plus three:

The mainstream U.S. foreign policy establishment views former President Donald Trump as a dangerous neo-isolationist, completely out of step with American ideals and interests. Internationalists at home and abroad shudder at the prospect of Trump’s potential reelection in November, fearing that he would dismantle the liberal order that the United States and its allies have built and defended since World War II.

Such fears are justified; Trump may indeed seek to do away with at least some core elements of the U.S.-led liberal order. But to portray his “America first” approach as a dark deviation from the American experience is to misunderstand its deep historical and ideological roots, as well as its considerable political appeal. Trump’s statecraft is a response to a changing world and to demand signals from the U.S. electorate, not a capricious effort to take apart the world that the United States made.

None of this is to deny that Trump’s return to office could be disastrous. At home, he may well imperil American democracy. Abroad, Trump’s mere reelection would set the world on edge. U.S. allies would have to face the reality that their security guarantor—the globe’s premier power—has been beset by intractable political dysfunction; they would have no choice but to question Washington’s long-term reliability and make other plans. Meanwhile, autocrats would be emboldened and the cause of democracy everywhere debilitated.

Yet the best way to avoid that highly unattractive outcome is not to recoil at Trump’s “America first” movement or to see it merely as the work of a know-nothing felon. Rather, the way forward requires unpacking that movement, understanding its considerable political appeal, and appropriating its worthy elements. If the Democrats are to defeat Trump and his neo-isolationist agenda, they should cull central elements of his “America first” program and pivot toward a more modest, restrained, and pragmatic brand of U.S. statecraft.

I think this article, although written from "left of center,” offers an alternative look at how we might conduct our foreign policy, perhaps going back to our roots in our early decades.  While it looks askance at President Trump and his ideas, the author teases out what he sees are veins of thought that resonate with the American People. Thus, its positive points may well outweigh its partisanship.

One place I strongly disagree with the author is his characterization of Senator Chuck Schumer's "bi-partison" immigration bill, which he brought forward to supplant the House Bill, which the Senate Majority Leader had buttonholed.  The Schumer Bill did not do the job.  For example, it would allow 1.82 million illegals a year without triggering actions.  As it is, President Biden's Executive Order♠ has an annual limit of only 912,500, which is still a lot of illegals per year.

The Author is Dr. Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University, and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. From 2014 to 2017 Kupchan served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council in the Obama White House. He was also Director for European Affairs on the NSC during the first Clinton administration. Before joining the Clinton NSC, he worked in the U.S. Department of State on the Policy Planning Staff. Previously, he was Assistant Professor of Politics at Princeton University..

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  One wonders how Preesident Biden issued that Executive Order after whinging for three years that he couldn't.