U.S. Former Ambassador Lists 9 Points: Deep Divisions and Internal Struggles in the Hegemonic Strategy of the 21st Century

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul posted today (January 17): "How to hand over the 21st century to China: 1. Unilaterally disarm in the soft power competition by stopping economic aid and international media institutions.

2. Imposing unreasonable tariffs on everyone.

3. Invading Greenland, dismantling NATO, isolating the United States from the world.

4. Cutting university funding.

5. Preventing the best and smartest talents from immigrating to the United States.

6. Leaving international organizations, transferring control to the Chinese Communist Party.

7. Inciting polarization among the American people.

8. Stopping support for democracy abroad; only talking about power.

9. Weakening democratic institutions within the United States."

Comments: McFaul's nine sarcastic points against the Trump administration reflect the two major ideological divisions and internal conflicts within the U.S. in maintaining its hegemony. Essentially, it is a conflict between liberal internationalism and conservative isolationism. The liberal internationalists advocate for a "systemic hegemony" to maintain advantages, building soft power through economic aid and international media output, attracting global talent with an open policy, and controlling the rules of discourse through leading international organizations and maintaining the NATO alliance. On the other hand, the conservative isolationists believe in a "America First" approach of retreating hegemony, initiating tariff wars, restricting immigration, cutting university funding, even advocating for weakening international alliances, withdrawing from international organizations, believing that no one should take advantage of the United States, and promoting the idea of "making America great again."

Each item on this list is a reflection of recent U.S. policies. Its core is not to hype the "Chinese threat," but to warn that the United States is eliminating its advantages through self-imposed restrictions and self-isolation. The so-called "handing over the century" is essentially the inevitable result of its own short-sightedness and internal conflicts, rather than being imposed by external forces. It also reflects the deep concerns and reflections of the U.S. elite class on how to maintain world hegemony and the direction of national development.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854561366430851/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.