Dismantling U.S. Economic Dominance, BRIC by BRIC

The greatest threat to the U.S. dollar isn’t a rival currency–it’s a financial system that doesn’t need one.  And that’s exactly what the BRICS alliance–originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa–is trying to build. What started as a loose economic partnership has evolved into a strategic alliance bent on dismantling U.S. economic dominance. But […]

Soft Power, Hard Lessons: The Cost of Economic Nationalism

The Playground President The president of the United States views the global arena like a school bully views their playground; failing to see that playing the popular kid is a much better strategy. A bully is typically someone with none or very few friends, with little means of getting what they want without violence or […]

A Tale of Two Slogans: Brexit Britain After Trump

During the 2017 United Kingdom general election, Prime Minister Theresa May ran on the slogan that she would provide ‘strong and stable leadership’. What followed was a weak electoral performance and two years of chaos as her government failed to pass a Brexit deal. Looking back at her premiership, one could hardly pick a more […]

On the Precipice: Southeast Asia Faces Trump 2.0’s Geopolitical Shake-Up

As Americans grapple with the aftermath of the November 2024 presidential elections, Southeast Asia stands at the critical nexus of its fallout, confronting a new and uncertain geopolitical reality. As Donald Trump returns to the White House, it marks a pivotal moment for the region. Trump’s “America First” policies, characterized by heightened protectionism, volatile diplomacy, […]

China v. the US: Tariff Threats and Redirection Techniques

On the economic front, the world has recently been shaken by the continued intensification of the Chinese-American trade war initiated by President Trump.  Marking just over a year since Trump began his Section 301 investigations on Chinese trade, the newest tariff policy Trump is threatening to impose on total Chinese exports is $200 billion dollars. The […]