[Choi Dae-yeol's Taeduk] The End of the Liberal Era... US 'Cheonhasambunji-gye'

[Namsan Ddalggakbari] The U.S. Is Not the U.S.
Biden's China Containment Policy Mirrors Trump
Viewed Through a New Political Grammar Beyond Democrats and Republicans

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] After Joe Biden became the President of the United States, we were puzzled because he showed actions ‘similar’ to those of his eccentric predecessor, Donald Trump. This is due to policies based on containing China and prioritizing domestic interests.

Summarizing Biden’s campaign pledge during the presidential race, it was ‘Buy America, Made in America.’ This aligns with the key stance emphasized by the maverick Trump during his tenure. About a month after taking office, Biden instructed a review of supply chains focusing on key items such as semiconductors, batteries, and rare earth elements. After over 100 days of investigation, the recent conclusion is that the U.S. must boost its domestic manufacturing capabilities and reduce dependence on China. This overlaps with the national emergency declaration made by the Trump administration in 2018. At that time, Trump ordered early development of critical minerals to prevent China from weaponizing rare earth elements.

Biden has clearly indicated not only inheriting but also strengthening the legacy of his predecessor, whom he faced in the election. So, it is not surprising that this appears somewhat awkward. To better understand the political grammar of the U.S., one must consider the significantly changed landscape as a major context.

“America Is Not That America,” written by Professor Ahn Byung-jin of Kyung Hee University’s Future Civilization Institute, is a book that reflects on how realpolitik in the U.S. has reached its current state and what the present situation entails. Professor Ahn, who identifies as a ‘public intellectual,’ does not hesitate to actively speak on social issues at the same level as ordinary citizens. As the author puts it, “America Is Not That America” is less of an explanatory guide providing answers and more of a proposal to collectively think through the issues.

Main Figures Classified as 'Tocqueville-Huntington-Debsism'
Post-Biden Inauguration Situation Suggests 'New Normal New Political Science'

At the outset, the author concludes that the lifespan of the American liberal democratic model “has ended.” This means that the American values and institutions regarded as common sense so far should not be blindly followed. He states, “America must forget its reverence and illusions about the founding fathers and revisit the blueprint,” predicting that “during this period of chaos and transition, various political forces will compete.” It is notable that he divides major American politicians and intellectuals into three groups regardless of their domestic political power or the strength of their supporting voters or factions. He calls these groups Tocquevillists, Huntingtons, and Debsists.

The names are derived from Alexis de Tocqueville (1805?1859), a French aristocrat and political philosopher who highlighted the positive aspects of American democracy; Samuel Huntington (1927?2008), an American political scientist who advocated the clash of civilizations theory; and Eugene Debs (1855?1926), an American labor union activist dedicated to the labor movement from the late 19th to early 20th century. Tocquevillists are “bipartisan forces who love American values and institutions and aim to restore their durability better.” They believe that by preserving the fundamentals, America can be rewritten. The author cites current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and American political scientist John Ikenberry as examples of Tocquevillists.

Huntingtonists and Debsists seek to transcend or change the existing system. Huntingtonists are “clash of civilizations theorists who want to defend America from external threats,” while Debsists aim to “transition the Tocquevillian system of existing stability and elite management into a more populist social democracy, or even socialism.” The author defines these as radical forces attempting to change the regime itself, representing right-wing and left-wing versions respectively. The former includes former President Trump and his campaign strategist Steve Bannon, while the latter includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who joined Bernie Sanders’ Democratic campaign, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who led Wall Street reform efforts.

U.S. President Joe Biden is speaking with reporters before departing on the 9th (local time) to attend the G7 summit.<이미지출처:연합뉴스>

It is necessary to make an effort to understand America well because the U.S. is intertwined with most of us living on the Korean Peninsula in various ways, big and small. President Moon Jae-in diligently tried to communicate consistently with American political leaders from the beginning of his term to remove the shackles of division. Whether ordinary people are eyeing the stock market or hearing news about COVID-19 vaccines, the U.S. cannot be excluded.

There is no need to strictly distinguish whether the America referred to here is the ruling and bureaucratic group of the United States of America, global corporations based on the American continent, or the unique culture formed in a 300-year-old immigrant nation. The author defines the emerging situation after Biden’s inauguration as “new political science for the new normal” and extracts several implications. These include starting from a practical and realistic attitude, shifting to scenario thinking that considers various ‘Plan B’s, adopting a multidimensional perspective, and approaching complex issues like climate change from the viewpoint of survival and security. The author also emphasizes the need for pluralistic internationalism and experimental biocracy.

The author explains by leading with theories of political philosophers or the actions of real politicians. This approach can enhance readability for readers somewhat interested in American politics. However, for others, it might become an obstacle to turning the pages. Knowing the background of the main characters can make the reading more engaging.

'The America That Is Not That America' cover. Photo by Medici Media