The Realignment 584 | Shadi Hamid: A Skeptic's Case for American Power
Dec 2, 2025
Shadi Hamid, a Washington Post columnist and author of The Case for American Power, discusses the complexities of U.S. foreign policy. He argues that America can act morally despite its past mistakes and emphasizes the need for U.S. leadership to address global challenges. Hamid also highlights a declining sense of patriotism among Democrats and warns against framing individual elections as existential. He advocates for active engagement from progressives in government to shape policy effectively, stressing the importance of agency and democratic resilience.
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Left Critique Can Coexist With Support For Power
- Shadi Hamid argues a left-leaning critic can still make a credible case for American power while exposing its sins.
- He insists America is imperfect but uniquely capable of moral progress compared with authoritarian rivals.
America Often The Only Practical Power Broker
- Hamid says major global problems can only realistically be resolved by the United States.
- He warns that abstaining from wielding power creates a vacuum other authoritarian states will fill.
Engage With Institutions To Shape Policy
- Hamid urges progressives to take the harder path of engaging with power rather than resigning from government roles.
- He prefers activists working inside institutions to abandoning influence in the name of moral purity.
