04-16-2020, 11:41 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-16-2020, 12:11 PM by Tim Randal Walker.)
A few years ago I began to notice (online) calls for America to retrench from International affairs.
I began to notice arguments for this based on the rise and fall of great powers. To summarize, when a great power begins to experience "imperial over stretch", it has two choices:
1. The great power may try to maintain the status quo. This tends to lead to decline, and the country may turn into a has been, and into a backwater..
2. Retrenchment from international affairs. The former great power may do well as a country, even if its power or influence is drastically curtailed in international affairs.
Sorry, I don't recall exactly where I found this stuff, or which (former) great powers were studied. This if off the top of my head while I drink my morning coffee.
To rephrase.... If a country is going into "imperial over stretch", its best option is to get out now. To go while the going is good.
Peter Zeihan (zeihan.com) has been monitoring U.S. involvement in international affairs, and he has indicated that the trend is towards disengagement/retrenchment.
I began to notice arguments for this based on the rise and fall of great powers. To summarize, when a great power begins to experience "imperial over stretch", it has two choices:
1. The great power may try to maintain the status quo. This tends to lead to decline, and the country may turn into a has been, and into a backwater..
2. Retrenchment from international affairs. The former great power may do well as a country, even if its power or influence is drastically curtailed in international affairs.
Sorry, I don't recall exactly where I found this stuff, or which (former) great powers were studied. This if off the top of my head while I drink my morning coffee.
To rephrase.... If a country is going into "imperial over stretch", its best option is to get out now. To go while the going is good.
Peter Zeihan (zeihan.com) has been monitoring U.S. involvement in international affairs, and he has indicated that the trend is towards disengagement/retrenchment.