A page from Gorbachev’s book
Biden is right. A worldwide struggle between authoritarian and democratic rule is gaining steam. Moreover, it takes place in the context of a crystallizing hegomonic clash between competing blocs on a global level.
Where Biden errs is in his assertion – most recently in his speech in Poland – that the resumption of the Cold War, albeit in new conditions, is the proper response to these challenges. It isn’t.
Instead, he might want to take a page out of the much maligned Mikhail Gorbachev’s book and accent peace, disarmament, sustainability, and global cooperation as well as democracy, equality, and glasnost (openess and transparency). It will be the force of example and policies along these lines, not the projection of military power and a restart of the Cold War that will secure a humane, democratic, and liveable world as well as the progressive dimensions – and there are many – of his agenda.
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