Return to Winter: Russia, China, and the New Cold War Against America by Douglas E. Schoen, Melik Kaylan Read Free Book Online Page A

here, it became clear to us that American influence across the board is waning, while the Russians and Chinese have grown economically, politically, and militarily more formidable. Beyond the discouraging trend in all these areas is a less tangible but more fundamental sign of American retreat: the decline in the power and appeal of the American idea. We do not defend and argue for the principles of freedom, liberty, and democracy as we once did. As a result, these ideals lack a global champion in an era of great social and economic dislocation, political violence, and technological change. In the meantime, the Chinese and Russians have put forward compelling alternative models—authoritarian,nationalistic, antidemocratic, and socially conservative—that have resonated with millions. They also challenge the American role in the world. Putin calls loudly for “non-interference” and state sovereignty, while the Chinese amorally push a promise of never-ending economic growth and consumerism as a justification for their authoritarian rule and human-rights abuses. The United States, meanwhile, largely stays silent, conceding the rhetorical and even moral high ground to these despotic, antidemocratic regimes.
    In the previous chapter, we outlined a number of key recommendations: Advance American principles of freedom and liberty; support free trade around the world; recommit ourselves to a defense budget suited to the challenges we face; reach consensus on the need for a more robust global presence; reverse the tendency toward a restricted and limited nuclear arsenal; do everything within our power to counter conventional and unconventional use of technology by our adversaries. If we do not take these steps, we will face a grimmer and more challenging future.
    Others around the world see the same stakes. Writing about the bloody confrontations between police and citizens in the streets of Kiev in Ukraine, Mikheil Saakashvili, former president of Georgia, called the impending struggle nothing less than “the first geopolitical revolution of the 21st century.” What he meant was that the two sides in Kiev (those who supported “independent, Western democracy” versus those who backed “Vladimir Putin’s Russia”) were waging a battle relevant to the rest of the world: a conflict between Western-oriented democracy and a reinvigorated authoritarianism. If the protesters were defeated, it would mean “a huge rollback of European influence and values,” Saakashvili wrote. “The credibility of the U.S., already eroding in the region, would vanish. Mr. Putin knows it. Brave citizens of Ukraine know it.” 3
    We wish we could say that we’re optimistic about what the future holds, at least under our present leadership. As believers in Americanexceptionalism, it is hard for us not to be hopeful, even now. But we believe that it’s more prudent to conclude with a warning than with a Pollyannaish assurance that everything will be OK, especially because the future prospects, at least in the short term, are not encouraging. We hope these arguments will serve as a wake-up call for Americans—and especially for America’s somnambulistic, negligent political leaders.
    While our weaknesses have many causes, from economic malaise to international developments over which we have limited control, our struggle is fundamentally about how we see ourselves. As a nation, we have lost the shared conviction that the American way is worth celebrating and defending, that democracy is the best form of government, and that America is rightly engaged with the world in defense of others who share these convictions. We must articulate this uniquely American vision again, both for our own sake and for the benefit of those around the world who look to America for leadership. Standing up to Russia and China and countering the corrosive impact of their antidemocratic message is central to regaining our national strength—and vital to the peace and