New in Civitas Outlook: “Eliminating Liberal International Asymmetries”

In November, Civitas Outlook published my column titled “Eliminating Liberal Institutional Asymmetries.” I explained that the single greatest opportunity of our current political moment is to eliminate entrenched institutional asymmetries permanently.

Today, Civitas Outlook published the sequel: “Eliminating Liberal International Asymmetries.” Here, I focus on the entrenched liberal biases in international law.

Here is the introduction:

Over the course of the twentieth century, progressives captured many American institutions. Regardless of which way popular opinion shifted, there was a persistent left-wing tilt. During his second term, President Trump has taken steps to eliminate many of these liberal institutional asymmetries, including in the civil service, the judiciary, the academy, the legal profession, and more. However, these liberal imbalances do not exist only at home. Modern international law is structured around progressive idealism that will always oppose conservative principles. President Trump is now taking steps to eliminate liberal international asymmetries. He has announced that the United States will withdraw from scores of global progressive entities that embolden small countries to push back against American foreign policies. And Trump continues to negotiate peace deals for Gaza, Ukraine, and other hotspots with the important parties, without engaging international institutions. Trump’s actions make plain the reality: the effect, if not purpose, of modern international law is to obstruct American conservative foreign policies. Once internationalism is viewed as merely another form of progressive politics, it can be treated accordingly.

And from the conclusion:

Thus, there is an asymmetry. A Democrat in the White House will find these international institutions to support his progressive agenda. If anything, international liberal groups are further to the left than their American counterparts in many regards. But a Republican in the White House will always be at odds with these international entities. Thankfully, President Trump is eliminating these liberal international asymmetries.

This essay, which I started working on before recent events, has become quite timely.