Ep61:Donald's America, A Gorbachev-Style Transformation

"​Today, we are going to explore whether the changes brought by Trump signify that the United States is undergoing a "transformation" analogous to the one led by Mikhail Gorbachev prior to the Soviet Union's collapse, delving into the nature, direction, and impact of this change on the world order.The change brought by Trump is a ​transformation of a major power, whose impact transcends typical political cycles. It touches upon four levels within the United States: the internal political order, the economic order, as well as the external regional order and international order. Some draw a parallel between ​​"Trump's Transformation"​​ and ​America's "Gorbachev-Svolution"​, as Trump takes aim at the American ​superstructure.1. Restructuring of Internal Order and Political ChangeThe domestic order restructuring brought by Trump is comprehensive. ​The "Trumpification" of Political Ideology:​​ Trump has elevated ​national populism​ to an unprecedented height, leveraging populist and nationalist methods to counter established political establishments and parties. Ideologically, he represents traditional, often religiously-tinged values, standing against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), "woke" culture, and LGBTQ+ rights. ​Changes to the System of Separation of Powers:​​ Trump appears to possess a remarkable ability to disrupt the system of checks and balances. He capitalizes on a paralyzed or conflicted Congress and judiciary to impose his will upon the legislative and judicial branches through executive means. This is seen as a core method in his effort to overhaul the "deep state". ​Federal-Local Relations:​​ Trump has shown a tendency to use federal power against predominantly Democratic "deep-blue" states and cities, even reportedly considering using military force to intervene in state and local politics. ​Military's "Inward Turn":​​ Trump signed an executive order to revert the "Department of Defense" back to its old name, the "Department of War". His objective is to shift the defense focus towards ​​"homeland defense"​​ and the ​​"Western Hemisphere"​, while implementing significant reforms within the Department, including purging "anti-war diversity policies". Media commentators have described a related summit as a "turning point" for the US military.2. Retrenchment and Reshaping of Foreign PolicyTrump's foreign policy priorities have shifted to a ​​"Domestic-Periphery-Backyard"​​ focus. ​Peripheral Nations:​​ This refers primarily to Mexico and Canada. The US policy towards these neighbors aims squarely at extracting economic benefits and effectively controlling illegal immigration and goods. ​Backyard (Sphere of Influence):​​ Latin America is treated as the US sphere of influence, where its diplomacy has been less than successful. Trump once announced renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" the "American Gulf", intending to diminish Mexican claims and counter Chinese influence in the region. ​Retreat from Regional and International Orders:​​ Trump is committed to reducing US commitment to various regional orders. This policy of "withdrawal" is not merely a Trump tactic but also reflects shifts in the global geopolitical order. A US retreat from regions can create power vacuums leading to instability, leaving other actors to manage the consequences.3. The Essential Difference Between Trump's Change and Gorbachev's ChangeThe article discusses whether "Trump's Transformation" could evolve into a "Gorbachev-Style Transformation". ​The Core Issue for the Soviet Union:​​ lay in the ​superstructure and production relations​ becoming incompatible with the development of the ​economic base and productive forces. Gorbachev's reforms aimed to break through the economic and technological stagnation of that time. ​The Core Issue for the United States:​​ is ​precisely the opposite​ of the Soviet case. The core US problem is the contradiction between the ​superstructure and production relations​ and the ​advanced economic base and productive forces. ​Object of Reform:​​ Trump's reforms target the ​superstructure, not the economic base. He seeks to strengthen the expression of capitalism and safeguard the interests represented by the US capitalist system. Therefore, this transformation involves adjustments to the superstructure and production relations, aiming to consolidate America's traditional constitutional system.

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