E191 - Grand Strategies of the Left w/ Van Jackson
Dec 31, 2024
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Van Jackson, a senior lecturer in international relations at Victoria University of Wellington and author of 'Grand Strategies of the Left,' joins to discuss cutting-edge foreign policy strategies. He critiques traditional U.S. grand strategies like neoliberalism and primacy, urging a shift towards progressive approaches. Jackson shares insights on evolving leftist ideologies amidst geopolitical changes, delving into the connection between political theory and real-world applications, and challenges faced within the national security framework.
Van Jackson discusses how traditional grand strategies in U.S. foreign policy often favor military solutions over alternative approaches like economic cooperation.
Progressive grand strategies such as anti-hegemonism and peacemaking introduce critical perspectives but face challenges in effectiveness and execution.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of grassroots movements and collaborative efforts in promoting progressive foreign policies to reshape national security discussions.
Deep dives
Understanding Grand Strategy
Grand strategy is a framework used to analyze how nations plan and execute their international relations to achieve overall objectives. It is defined as an approach within security studies, nested within international relations and political science disciplines. Historically, the concept has been associated with conservative perspectives, especially evident in programs like those at Yale, which were influenced by figures like John Lewis Gaddis and Paul Kennedy. This creates a bias within the discourse, as many grand strategies tend to prioritize military solutions over other approaches, which narrows the understanding of statecraft.
The Historical Context of Grand Strategy
The historical context of grand strategy in the United States has often leaned towards conservative interpretations, emphasizing military power and great power competition. The frameworks developed by scholars like Barry Posen and Andrew Ross categorize grand strategies into four types: primacy, neoliberal institutionalism, isolationism, and offshore balancing. These strategies are predominantly rationalist and realist, focusing on military positioning and treat major global interactions as a series of calculated costs and benefits. As a result, this historical analysis reveals entrenched ideologies that shape U.S. foreign policy decisions and limit alternative perspectives.
Identifying Leftist Grand Strategies
In addressing leftist foreign policy, several strategies emerge that offer alternatives to mainstream grand strategies. The three notable progressive grand strategies outlined include progressive pragmatism, anti-hegemonism, and peacemaking. Progressive pragmatism emphasizes economic equality and anti-authoritarianism, presenting a liberal approach that seeks to promote economic cooperation while maintaining a critique of militarization. Anti-hegemonism advocates for realizing the detrimental impacts of U.S. power and implementing anti-imperialist approaches, asserting that the world’s regions should have autonomy over their political destinies.
The Risks and Criticisms of Grand Strategies
Each of the identified progressive grand strategies faces inherent criticisms and risks that could undermine their effectiveness. For progressive pragmatism, there is a concern that adopting a liberal framework may inadvertently reinforce the status quo and limit substantive change. Similarly, anti-hegemonism runs the risk of empowering authoritarian regimes if not carefully managed, as it can lead to accusations of appeasement without addressing the ongoing threat of imperialism. Peacemaking, while well-intentioned, often neglects political economy, raising questions about how to pursue human security without considering economic foundations, which are crucial for genuine stability.
The Path Forward for Leftist Strategies
The path forward requires that progressive grand strategies not only articulate alternative visions but also translate these ideas into actionable policies. Emphasizing grassroots movements and social justice as guiding principles could galvanize new energy within the political landscape. Furthermore, fostering collaborations across various intellectual fields might enhance the understanding and implementation of these leftist strategies, facilitating more inclusive discussions on foreign policy. In doing so, those advocating for these strategies can engage the community and challenge the prevailing narratives of the national security establishment.
Danny welcomes back to the program Van Jackson, senior lecturer in international relations at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, to explore grand strategy and a progressive foreign policy to make a more just and stable world. They discuss where grand strategy falls in the fields of political science and international relations, dominant grand strategies like offshore balancing, neoliberal institutionalism, and anti-hegemonism, how these strategies relate to what's happening in DC, and more.
