Us vs Them: The Failure of Globalism
September 10, 2018
Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eurasia Group
Moderated by Vali Nasr, Dean of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
Founder and President of the Eurasia Group Ian Bremmer joined the school for a discussion, moderated by Dean Vali Nasr, on the impacts of globalization in today’s changing world.
Setting the context for the conversation, Bremmer referenced some of his main concerns for the future of the United States. He noted that the rise of China is increasing the likelihood of conflict as it steadily competes with the United States in terms of military power, trade and primarily, technology. “We are heading on a path toward confrontation,” he said. Another major concern Bremmer mentioned is that many of the citizens who live in the United States and Europe do not believe they live in a true democracy and that the system is rigged against them. He believes that governments need to be doing more to reassure their constituents.
Bremmer also questioned whether the United States would have the capability of successfully engaging in conflict with China, due in large part to the country’s dwindling list of strategic allies. While he believes the United States needs a more hawkish policy toward China than the Obama administration had, he conceded this approach is difficult to implement.
Upon being asked about Russia’s role in the future reordering of the global system, Bremmer emphasized the country’s heightened ability to use hard, soft, and secret power in its work to actively divide populations in countries around the world. While he doesn’t believe that Russia will have a significant role in the creation of a new world order, the country will derive its strategic power from its ability to undermine authority in other states.
Questions from the audience ranged from how terrorism challenges American policies to the potential spillover effects into Latin America from a confrontation between China and the United States.