Sovereignty: Liberal Democracies and the Emerging World: Part 1

Before addressing the challenges with the architectural erosion of Constitutional Liberalism in America (and the shortcomings of our Democracy generally), here is a brief note on how we are presently implementing our foreign policy.

Specifically, America has done an unsatisfactory job of establishing an over reigning foreign policy platform. We should have a "long view" diplomacy and security vision. 

That is to say, a platform that is multi-generational (4-5), informed and cohesive in addressing the security, governance, and economic challenges of today's global citizens as it relates to America and in the context of a broader global vision for the future of human society with America key-stoned as a central player. 

That is not to say that America can be short sighted and singularly pursue it's interests abroad. Quite the contrary, SP is advocating a complete refutation of the NeoCon doctrine of preemption that so dominated our foreign policy production in America for most of the last decade. Plainly stated, American sovereignty is not an exclusively acceptable justification for American preemption.

The idea that America should be prepared to take on preemptive military action, anywhere in the globe, at the slightest provocation, and whenever necessary, to protect it's interests, is absurd.  Also the idea which suggests that because America is the lone remaining super-power (really?), and because it is a "shining city on a hill" that needs to protect itself from "evil-doers" (who want to destroy our freedom? seriously?), we should radically try to remake the world governments into American friendly democracies through aggressive diplomacy (and military means?), is also fantastically ridiculous.  

The implementation and pursuit of the NeoCon doctrine of preemption (which is actually more complex that was just represented), has exclusively led to the short term expenditure of international political capital for virtually no appreciable gains, and even severe diplomatic setbacks. It has achieved these setbacks at the expense of American lives, domestic turmoil, vast opportunity costs, and international repudiation of our conduct.

America's international challenges are largely rooted in our inability to listen, and to lead through soft power, as the failure of the NeoCon doctrine demonstrates. America's chief international short coming, (which can not be overcome with throw away dictators/politicos, force of arms, etc.) is that it doesn't understand how to deal with non- liberal democracies. Whether it's oligarchs, theocracies, illiberal democracies, dictators, Maoists, or anything in between, America constantly proselytizes it's way of living and governance to audiences that are unwilling or are unprepared for the message.