Trump’s path to war:
the China case
8 February 2017
Comparative warpaths
George W Bush
Donald J Trump
Substantive agenda
“America First”:
-domestic economic priority
-less interest in alliances,
spheres of influence, nation
neo-con
project:
building
“Leninist”
exporting the US political
system, including by wars of
Jacksonian unilateralism: distrust
choice
of all multilateral institutions
No bluff: actions following words
Promiscuous bargaining
Unilateralism: ignoring the UN if
necessary, “coalitions of the
willing”
Style
“America First”:
-domestic economic priority
-less interest in alliances,
spheres of influence, nation
building
Jacksonian unilateralism: distrust
of all multilateral institutions
Consistency – on regime change
No bluff: actions following
words
Ready resort to force of arms
Promiscuous bargaining
Copyright © 2016 TSL Research Group UK Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
www.tslresearch.com
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Signs of moderation?
• Defence Secretary Mattis’s remarks in Tokyo:
“We do not see any need for dramatic military moves at all...”
• 3rd February phone call between State Councillor Yang and US
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn
• Tillerson’s written responses to Senator Cardin
• NEC chairman Gary Cohn’s more moderate trade policy views.
Copyright © 2016 TSL Research Group UK Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
www.tslresearch.com
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