Globalism and Nationalism
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2018 4:09 pm
Last week Trump described himself as a Nationalist, and in so doing created a line between Nationalism and Globalism. He is a Nationalist, because he puts America first. Globalists put the welfare of others before the welfare of out Nation.
The President proposes that you are either one or the other. This is a reflection of the way Trump sees the world: as a binary division between winners and losers. The United States is a winner, and we should not waste our time propping up countries that cannot take care of themselves. The idea that there can be a win/win for the good of the country and the good of the world does not seem to enter his thinking.
You can argue that every American President since FDR has been a globalist. I wonder how the history of the United States and the world would have been different had Presidents defined our nation's role from a more nationalist perspective. Imagine if the investments in the soft power of globalism had not occurred.
Imagine post World War II Europe without a Marshall plan. Imagine if we had not helped Japan rebuild. Imagine if all nations had this atomistic view of the World: No United Nations, no trade agreements, no treaties for commerce, shipping and fishing rights, etc.
I am not saying that all Nationalistic instincts are bad. The primary responsibility of a country is to take care of its own citizens. But the idea of nationalism and globalism is an either/or proposition is incorrect. There times when the interests of the nation and the interest of the larger world community can align. Past Presidents have understood this. Trump does not.
The President proposes that you are either one or the other. This is a reflection of the way Trump sees the world: as a binary division between winners and losers. The United States is a winner, and we should not waste our time propping up countries that cannot take care of themselves. The idea that there can be a win/win for the good of the country and the good of the world does not seem to enter his thinking.
You can argue that every American President since FDR has been a globalist. I wonder how the history of the United States and the world would have been different had Presidents defined our nation's role from a more nationalist perspective. Imagine if the investments in the soft power of globalism had not occurred.
Imagine post World War II Europe without a Marshall plan. Imagine if we had not helped Japan rebuild. Imagine if all nations had this atomistic view of the World: No United Nations, no trade agreements, no treaties for commerce, shipping and fishing rights, etc.
I am not saying that all Nationalistic instincts are bad. The primary responsibility of a country is to take care of its own citizens. But the idea of nationalism and globalism is an either/or proposition is incorrect. There times when the interests of the nation and the interest of the larger world community can align. Past Presidents have understood this. Trump does not.