#198 - Is America Retreating from Global Leadership?

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Education, News, Society & Culture

4.6 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 28 January 2022

⏱️ 54 minutes

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Summary

It’s been a year of the Biden administration. And for many around the world, the question is simple: Can America still lead like it used to? President Biden, following his predecessor's “America First” policy, promised to “restore the soul of America.” Many took that to mean Washington was looking to reassert itself as the pre-eminent global leader. But some say that ship has sailed, and question whether the tables are decidedly turning. In light of this emerging divide, we debate this question: Is America retreating from global leadership? Arguing in favor of the motion is Bill Kristol, Founder and Editor-at-Large of The Weekly Standard, and Mary Beth Long, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Arguing against the motion is Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy of the American Enterprise Institute, and Vikram Singh, a Senior Advisor for the U.S. Institute of Peace and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm John Donovan and this is Intelligence Squared U.S.
0:03.8	And before we start this episode, I wanted to remind you that Intelligence Squared U.S.
0:07.6	is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
0:10.4	We are looking forward to another year of high quality programming,
0:13.7	making it happen for you, and we would love your support to reach new audiences and develop new programs.
0:19.8	Please visit www.intelligencesquaredus.org
0:24.3	to learn more about how you can get involved and make a donation to restore balanced debate
0:29.5	and a return to civility in the public square.
0:39.0	The year is 1989.
0:40.6	The Berlin Wall is coming down.
0:42.6	America is both powerful and ascendant, fast forward to the present.
0:47.0	China's rise, a revanchist Russia, American retrenchment in places like Afghanistan,
0:52.6	Iraq, and Syria, all making that sense of leadership less clear.
0:57.8	Some say American power and even the will to lead are receding.
1:01.8	Others argue that American influence not only remains,
1:05.0	but Washington is looking to reassert itself as the preeminent influencer of world events.
1:10.3	In light of this emerging divide, we debate the question,
1:13.8	is America retreating from global leadership?
1:17.3	Yes, that is the question.
1:19.0	One year after the election of President Joe Biden, who promised to restore the soul of America,
1:25.4	we are going to look at the standing of America globally.
1:29.5	America as a leader, as often has been claimed or said,
	...

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