Should Biden Be Pro-Democracy or Anti-Autocracy?

Chris, Melanie, and Zack debate Madeleine Albright's recent
article on “The Coming Democratic Revival” in Foreign
Affairs. They discuss whether the United States is in a position
to promote democracy and push back against autocracy abroad, or
whether it needs to focus primarily on its own democratic
institutions and processes. Melanie commends Nancy Mace for
holding Steve Bannon to account. Chris calls out President
Joe Biden for his recent confusing statement on Taiwan. And
Zack remembers Colin Powell for a life well lived.


Links:


Madeleine K. Albright, “The Coming Democratic Revival,” Foreign
Affairs, November/December
2021, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2021-10-19/madeleine-albright-coming-democratic-revival.


“As Sudan's Government Wobbles, Coups are Making a Comeback,” The
Economist, Oct. 25,
2021, https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/10/25/as-sudans-government-wobbles-coups-are-making-a-comeback. 


Caitlyn Byrd, “SC's Nancy Mace Joins Democrats in Vote to Hold
Steven Bannon in Contempt of Congress,” Oct. 21,
2021, https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article255184472.html. 


Jack Norton, Twitter, Oct. 25,
2021, https://twitter.com/JackNorton8064/status/1452525971442044930. 


Jane Street, Twitter, Oct. 19,
2021, https://twitter.com/janestreet/status/1450608726352740355.


Joseph R. Biden Jr., “Not So Deft On Taiwan,” Washington Post,
May 2,
2001, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2001/05/02/not-so-deft-on-taiwan/2adf3075-ee98-4e70-9be0-5459ce1edd5d/.


Josh Rudolph, “Regulating the Enablers,” Alliance for Securing
Democracy, Sept.
2021, https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/regulating-the-enablers/.


Michael Cohen, “The Foreign Policy ‘Credibility’ Argument Is,
Well, Not Credible,” The New Republic, Oct. 18, 2021,
https://newrepublic.com/article/164039/foreign-policy-credibility-argument-afghanistan-withdrawal.


NAEI Annual Student Competition, Atlantic
Council, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/scowcroft-center-for-strategy-and-security/new-american-engagement-initiative/naei-annual-student-competition/.


Pew Research Center, “Citizens in Advanced Economies Want
Significant Changes to Their Political Systems,” October
2021, https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/PG_2021.10.21_Democracy_FINAL.pdf.


“SFRC Approves 33 Critical Foreign Policy Nominations,” United
States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Oct. 19,
2021, https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/chair/release/sfrc-approves-33-critical-foreign-policy-nominations-.


Steven F. Knott, American Foreign Policy to 1899: Core
Documents (Ashland, OH: Ashbrook Center,
2021), https://teachingamericanhistory.org/product/american-foreign-policy-to-1899/. 


Ted Galen Carpenter, “Biden and His Foreign Policy Team At Least
Need to Get on the Same Page Regarding Taiwan,” Cato at Liberty
Blog, Oct. 25,
2021, https://www.cato.org/blog/biden-foreign-policy-team-least-need-get-same-page-regarding-taiwan.