The Wright Show The Perils of a New Cold War (Connor Echols & Van Jackson)
Feb 14, 2025
Van Jackson, a senior lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington and author of the Undiplomatic newsletter, dives deep into the complexities of the U.S.-China cold war. He discusses the critical lessons from the first Cold War that policymakers overlook today. Jackson examines the roots of the current geopolitical rivalry and critiques the outdated views influencing American foreign policy. He also explores the impact of economic nationalism on inequality, the challenges of military power dynamics, and inefficiencies in U.S. industrial policy.
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Misremembering the Cold War
- Policymakers often misremember the Cold War as a triumphant victory.
- This distorted view shapes current policies, especially towards China.
The Right Cold War Metaphor
- The wrong Cold War metaphor is of a heroic struggle where democracy prevailed.
- The right one is of violence and exclusion justified by geopolitical rivalry.
Shift to a New Cold War
- The shift towards a new Cold War began with the US adopting a primacy strategy after the Cold War.
- This was challenged by factors like the Iraq War and the 2008 financial crisis.