By Daniel Nardini
There is an American saying that when you buy an unknown set of goods, you buy the bad as well as the good. The same goes in politics. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is becoming a very powerful force in American politics. The DSA of course is emphasizing bread and butter issues like the rising prices of food and gasoline, health care, the affordability of housing, fighting discrimination, helping young people get good paying jobs, etc. Of course these issues are of great importance, and I am not suggesting otherwise. In this regards, the Republican Party is sadly coming up short—way too short. Even where Republicans control the state and city governments, the DSA has made headway on the local level. We have to remember that the DSA was founded in 1982, and its founders had learned the lessons of avoiding the mistakes made by the political and cultural New Left of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. The DSA has evolved to become a well structured, well organized and effective organization working within the Democratic Party and other left and progressive organizations. Even when the odds are against them, they can still achieve victory because they know how to mobilize.
But there is one problem; a blind spot in their ideology. This is in regards to American national security. As bad as things may be in the United States under current President Donald Trump, so far America remains committed to its European allies, to its Asian allies, and to in one form or another of collective security. In regards to Ukraine, there is fierce debate of what to do in the DSA. While the DSA leadership opposes the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it also opposes the European Union’s and America’s efforts to aid Ukraine. There are factions in the DSA that support Ukraine in its “anti-imperialist struggle against Russian aggression.” But the biggest blind spot is East Asia. In regards to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, the DSA leadership believes that these three countries were formed out of “American imperialist hegemony.” It never seems to occur to the DSA that these countries exist because of their own internal political and historical circumstances. These countries have sought alliances with the United States on the basis of protecting themselves from both China and North Korea. This remains true to this day.
However, to the DSA, this remains irrelevant. in their view, these states were the creation of American imperialism, and therefore if they take power they will enact a strict non-intervention policy of not helping these three countries and withdrawing all American soldiers from East Asia. The problem is that this will encourage China to most certainly blockade Taiwan and even threaten South Korea and Japan as well. This in turn will mean that the American territory of Guam will be threatened by Chinese intervention. So there is reason why the DSA must be opposed in this regards. The same collective security that protects the United States and the European Union also protects America’s allies in East Asia. On a personal note, I have very close friends in Taiwan and my wife has family in South Korea. We have reason for opposing the DSA in regards to its naive non-intervention, anti-imperialist policy. The security of our allies and friends in East Asia is the security of America as well. To all of my readers, as much as the Republicans are driving you to vote for an alternative to them, be very careful who that alternative may be.
The Progressive Blind Spot to American National Security
By Daniel Nardini
But there is one problem; a blind spot in their ideology. This is in regards to American national security. As bad as things may be in the United States under current President Donald Trump, so far America remains committed to its European allies, to its Asian allies, and to in one form or another of collective security. In regards to Ukraine, there is fierce debate of what to do in the DSA. While the DSA leadership opposes the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it also opposes the European Union’s and America’s efforts to aid Ukraine. There are factions in the DSA that support Ukraine in its “anti-imperialist struggle against Russian aggression.” But the biggest blind spot is East Asia. In regards to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, the DSA leadership believes that these three countries were formed out of “American imperialist hegemony.” It never seems to occur to the DSA that these countries exist because of their own internal political and historical circumstances. These countries have sought alliances with the United States on the basis of protecting themselves from both China and North Korea. This remains true to this day.
However, to the DSA, this remains irrelevant. in their view, these states were the creation of American imperialism, and therefore if they take power they will enact a strict non-intervention policy of not helping these three countries and withdrawing all American soldiers from East Asia. The problem is that this will encourage China to most certainly blockade Taiwan and even threaten South Korea and Japan as well. This in turn will mean that the American territory of Guam will be threatened by Chinese intervention. So there is reason why the DSA must be opposed in this regards. The same collective security that protects the United States and the European Union also protects America’s allies in East Asia. On a personal note, I have very close friends in Taiwan and my wife has family in South Korea. We have reason for opposing the DSA in regards to its naive non-intervention, anti-imperialist policy. The security of our allies and friends in East Asia is the security of America as well. To all of my readers, as much as the Republicans are driving you to vote for an alternative to them, be very careful who that alternative may be.