The Foreign Affairs Interview America’s Dangerous Pessimism
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Dec 14, 2023 
Fareed Zakaria, host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN, discusses America's pessimism and its impact on foreign policy strategies. He argues that the pessimistic assumptions are wrong and harmful. Topics include the concept of American declinism, the US global position, the turn against trade and nostalgia for manufacturing, the rise of China, and the Biden administration's approaches to China and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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American Pessimism
- Americans overwhelmingly believe their country is declining, shown by polls about future influence and the "right track/wrong track" metric.
- This pessimism is surprising given the U.S.'s sustained global power and influence.
U.S. Global Standing
- The U.S. maintains a strong global position, holding 25% of global GDP, equal to its share in 1980 and 1990.
- It dominates the tech sector with nine of the top ten global companies, showcasing strength in emerging technologies.
Vietnam War Analogy
- In the 1960s, the U.S., while performing well, perceived itself as declining against the Soviet Union, leading to missteps like the Vietnam War.
- A similar exaggerated fear of China, rooted in a sense of decline, is influencing current U.S. policy.