Dwarkesh Podcast Richard Hanania - Foreign Policy, Fertility, and Wokeness
Feb 24, 2022
Richard Hanania, President of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, shares insights on the U.S.-China foreign policy landscape and critiques the often irrational nature of state strategies. He delves into how internal factors shape foreign policy and the role of lobbyists in decision-making. The discussion extends to the implications of cultural norms on fertility rates, questioning whether state incentives can enhance birth rates. Finally, Hanania examines the political engagement shifts post-Trump and the liberal ideologies dominating big tech.
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Institutional Trade-offs in Foreign Policy
- Countries with strong economic institutions may have weaker grand strategies.
- Decentralization and individual freedom can hinder a cohesive foreign policy.
The Double-Edged Sword of War
- War, while generally bad, can accelerate change and prevent political sclerosis.
- The decline of war might contribute to institutional stagnation.
China vs. US Foreign Policy
- China's foreign policy, while seemingly coherent, may not be inherently superior.
- The U.S. makes bigger foreign policy blunders due to its interventionist approach.
