security dilemma

I just gave a talk to a section of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs—a great group of a couple dozen Gen Z’ers, at a nice little bar in Wellington. What started out as shooting the shit about foreign policy turned into a live show of the podcast.

In this live show, I put three propositions on the table—Un-Diplomatic regulars will be at least somewhat familiar with all these themes: 1) Sino-US rivalry is not a struggle for hegemony or domination; 2) US grand strategy is one of primacy, and the requirements of primacy today conflict with the requirements of peace in Asia and the Pacific; 3) The root-cause of our problems with China is inequality—at multiple levels, but especially within China.

Along the way, we talk about policy thinking as a practitioner versus as an IR scholar; speaking truth to power; job prospects for Gen Z; why New Zealand’s priority ought to be preventing another Gallipoli; and more! Shout out to Tom Preston and Celia McDowell for putting this on.

Subscribe to the Un-Diplomatic Newsletter: https://www.un-diplomatic.com

The Australian right's red-baiting flop on China. New Zealand's trucker protests have morphed into a mob.   Dwayne Johnson could actually be the next president because America loves unqualified "cool bros."  How Van has evolved on China rivalry stuff.  Progressives debate Russia-Ukraine.  South Korean nukes.  The limits of Ben & Jerry's theory of peace.  

Jake Grumbach Tweet: https://twitter.com/JakeMGrumbach/status/1493277842062209025

Graham Webster Tweet: https://twitter.com/gwbstr/status/1495458935565742084

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Tweet: https://twitter.com/benandjerrys/status/1489393235655106562

Evan Laksmana Tweet: https://twitter.com/EvanLaksmana/status/1495191322738962432?s=20&t=M23YweHXACSR7Iiew3tN5g

Eric Gomez Tweet: https://twitter.com/EricGomezAsia/status/1490182380572839938?t=wr-Vv7hpPTTBaBahsqNF2w&s=19

Terrell Jermaine Starr Piece on Progressive Russia-Ukraine Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/11/progressives-defend-ukraine/?utm_source=PostUp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Editors%20Picks%20OC&utm_term=39416&tpcc=Editors%20Picks%20OC

Contributors: Jake Dellow, Hunter Marston, Gaby Magnuson, Ciara Mitchell

Black self defense is essential to minimize state violence.  Good strategy isn't infinite.  The war-game might be rigged, but it can still be fun.  Is the China-US relationship a security dilemma, or nah?  Klaus Schwab says neoliberalism is dead, but the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist.  Also this episode: Why is everything breaking and nothing working except for military procurement and missile development?  Corruption!

Astra Taylor Tweet: https://mobile.twitter.com/astradisastra/status/1307430291754160128

Kelsey Atherton Tweet: https://mobile.twitter.com/AthertonKD/status/1308423891631722499

Yuna Wong Tweet: https://twitter.com/YunaHuhWong/status/1308449074778198017?s=19

Matt Duss Tweet:https://mobile.twitter.com/mattduss/status/1308470852619558912

Rob Cameron on Black self-defense: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/24/case-black-american-self-defense-protests/

Tyson Brown on Strategy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/22/united-states-need-new-strategic-mindset-infinite-perspective/

Contributors: Pete McKenzie, Gaby Magnuson, Jake Dellow, and Ciara Mitchell