AMERICA RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW

Something that should alarm anyone who cares about how nations interact with each other: it's about a moment on cable news that revealed far more than just another heated political debate. It was a window into a fundamental shift in how America sees its role in the world. On January 5th, White House Adviser Stephen Miller sat down with CNN's Jake Tapper. What unfolded wasn't just a clash of ideas. It was the public burial of an entire framework for international relations.

Is anything truly new, or are we merely remixing the echoes of the past? From fashion to business and art, it feels like every novel idea has a familiar echo of something that came before. Every idea stands on the shoulders of older concepts, and every invention reimagines past creations. But does this mean there’s no true originality? Or does it reveal a deeper truth about how ideas evolve and reinvent themselves?

GOVERNING IN POLARIZED AMERICA

The chokehold has been lifted. America breathes again! I mean we narrowly avoided complete, self-inflicted disaster. After harrowing days of the most long-drawn-out government shutdown in U.S. history—a marathon of political brinkmanship—Congress somehow reached a makeshift deal to get off the people's back. Federal workers will return to their offices, airports will return to normal, and there will be food on the table for millions living paycheck-to-paycheck. The "glass is half-full" optimists would say this deal is simply the lesser of two evils. And, frankly, that’s about as good as it gets these days. We like to think of polarization as the Damocles Sword hanging perpetually over our heads. But history speaks otherwise. From the Marshall Plan to the Civil Rights Act to Medicare, America can build consensus across class, race, and party lines. The problem is not that cooperation is impossible. Rather, we’ve simply forgotten how to expect it. We’ve become so used to the partisan food fight that we're surprised when someone actually tries to cook dinner.

In the business world, prioritization is a crucial strategy to achieve definitive goals. Failure is not an option. In the case of the USA, the most important global power, what exactly does prioritization mean in foreign policy? To uphold the liberal order? To manage China so that it remains a peaceful global power?

Listen to Professor Jennifer Lind and Professor Daryl Press of Dartmouth College on the podcast AMERICA UNBOUND with Narain Batra.

The political landscape, it is often said, is a battlefield of ideas, a contest of policies debated in the hallowed halls of democracy. Yet, in the age of Donald Trump, this battlefield has taken on a more primal, more punitive dimension. The rules of engagement have been rewritten. The art of political disagreement has been replaced by the science of personal retribution. To thwart Trump is not merely to lose a debate; it is to court punishment.

I have the honor of introducing a luminary in the field of international relations, Professor William  Wohlforth. He is  the Daniel Webster Professor of Government atDartmouth College.  Professor Wohlforth is renowned for his multidisciplinary expertise in international relations,  security, and foreign policy, and has madesignificant contributions to the understanding of the dynamics of geopolitics. He is the author of several books, including the latest, A Measure Short ofWar: A Brief History of Great Power Subversion, which he co-authored with a British scholar Jill Kastner. Hehas also written scores of scholarly articles published in Foreign Affairs and other esteemed journals— exploring topics ranging from the intricacies of the Cold War to U.S. grand strategy. Most notably, his work on the concept of unipolarity has influenced public discourse,  especially on American global supremacy, some would say, America’s benevolent hegemony, in the post-Cold War era.

Joe Major serves as a Vermont State Senator. Although a freshman senator,  he brings much leadership experience and dedication to public service. Originally from  Buffalo, New York, Joe graduated from Howard University, also the Alma Mater of  Kamala Harris. They were class fellows. Joe served honorably as an officer in the U.S. Army. He is the Executive Director of the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction, where he passionately promotes health and wellness. It’s a gorgeous center of community engagement, one of the best places in the Upper Valley. In the local government, Joe served as treasurer of the town of Hartford and as vice chair of the Hartford Selectboard. In these roles,  Joe fine-tuned his financial expertise and commitment to the town’s welfare and progress. Joe’s dedication to Vermont is driven by his varied professional background as well as his interest in the arts and culture of the Upper Valley.  And most of all, his abiding faith in the goodness of the larger community.

When Donald Trump proclaims that America will “flourish and be respected again all over the world,” he evokes a grand, almost mythical image of dominance and superiority. He envisions America as the envy of all nations, reminiscent of past empires that thrived on military might and economic control. However, Trump isn’t the only one who has this vision. Leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping have similarly sought to reclaim their nations’ past glories. They dream of restoring dominance through military power, economic expansion, or territorial conquest. This isn’t just political rhetoric; it’s a reflection of a deep-rooted human impulse.

The rise of Donald Trump, his expansionist vision, and his ability to rally followers through tribalism, conformity, and religiosity highlight a dangerous global trend. Leaders who exploit these instincts can create divisive, authoritarian, and imperialist movements—with unpredictable consequences. But history has also shown that humans are capable of resistance, reason, and the pursuit of liberty. The question is: which force will win?

Diplomacy isn't just for diplomats, politicians, and world leaders. It's a crucial skill for navigating everyday interactions, whether at work, home or in social situations. For over two decades, I taught a graduate seminar, Global Corporate Diplomacy. Most of my students were middle-level business managers and military officers. At its core, diplomacy is about understanding, connecting, and persuading. It's a skill that can enhance every interaction, improving our lives and those around us.

If Donald Trump stays in the White House, would it