Future Discontinuous What does another Trump presidency mean for global politics, Stephen Walt?
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Nov 29, 2024 In this riveting discussion, Stephen Walt, the Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard, delves into the potential global ramifications of a second Trump presidency. He explores the implications for U.S.-China relations, predicting a hardline approach and trade tensions. Walt warns about the diminishing U.S. support for Ukraine and the looming volatility in the Middle East, particularly regarding Israel and Iran. He also highlights the dangers of consolidating executive power and the risk to international cooperation on issues like climate change.
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Elections Exposed Expert Failures
- Pollsters and political experts misread recent U.S. elections, exposing flawed assumptions about turnout, money, and ground games.
- Stephen Walt argues Democrats must rethink campaign models because conventional wisdoms failed badly this cycle.
Loyalists Without Independent Power
- Trump’s cabinet picks are loyalists with no independent power bases, increasing his control and ease of firing subordinates.
- Walt warns this creates convenient scapegoats and reduces institutional checks on presidential mistakes.
Defend Checks To Avoid Hubris
- Preserve institutional checks and balances to detect and correct major policy mistakes before they become catastrophic.
- Walt implies democracies must resist concentrated executive power to avoid hubris-driven disasters.
