More from @McFaul

Michael McFaul

@McFaul

24 Nov

@JoeBiden

In one sentence @JoeBiden makes clear his foreign policy worldview: “America is back, ready to lead the world, not retreat from it, once again sit at the head of the table, ready to confront our adversaries and not reject our allies, ready to stand up for our values.” THREAD 1/

In the U.S., two cleavage issues have shaped foreign policy debates since the founding our Republic: internationalism vs isolation and liberalism vs realism. 2/

In the last several decades, this debate is not BETWEEN political parties, but within them. If you can imagine a 2 X 2 matrix, there are Democrats and Republicans in all 4 quadrants. 3/

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

23 Nov

@RNicholasBurns

Ambassadors @RNicholasBurns , Marc Grossman, and Marcie Reis have written a terrific report for how to revitalize American diplomacy called, A U.S. Diplomatic Service for the 21st Century . Download here: belfercenter.org/publication/us… . THREAD 1/

Among many pragmatic and doable reforms, they recommend “funding for a 15 percent increase in Foreign Service personnel levels to create a training float like that maintained by the U.S. military.” 2/

They call for “an increase of 2,000 positions over three years . After the 15 percent increase in positions is achieved, launch a four-year commitment to increase the size of the Foreign Service by another 1,400-1,800 positions to fill current and projected staffing gaps.” 3/

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

21 Nov

After January 20, 2021, I hope the American media can end their obsession/addiction to Trump.

I’m so old that I remember a time when conservatives and the GOP detested frivolous law suits.

I’m so old that I remember a time when conservatives respected states rights and the 10th amendment.

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

16 Nov

https://twitter.com/McFaul/status/1328418957678710784

I wrote a book on democracy promotion in 2009. My argument there was that paradoxically the US almost never invades a country to promote democracy (Panama is an exception), but then almost never leaves a country without trying to install democracy (1st Iraq war is an exception)

https://twitter.com/McFaul/status/1328418957678710784

Here's the book: Advancing Democracy Abroad. Why We Can adn How We Should. amazon.com/Advancing-Demo….

In the prescriptive section of this book, I have a subsection titled "Renouncing Military Intervention as a Tool of Democracy Promotion" (p. 155)

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

12 Nov

Why did Russia's relations with the West shift from cooperation a few decades ago to a new era of confrontation today? THREAD 1/

Some explanations focus narrowly on changes in the balance of power in the international system, or trace historic parallels and cultural continuities in Russian international behavior. 2/

For a complete understanding of Russian foreign policy today, individuals, ideas, and institutions—President Vladimir Putin, Putinism, and autocracy—must be added to the analysis. 3/

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