Walter Russell Mead on the Past and Future of American Foreign Policy | Conversations with Tyler

Think Tanks

Walter Russell Mead critiques the diminishing influence of foreign policy think tanks, attributing it to the rise of in-house government think tanks and a general decline in public trust. He argues that the American educated elite has repeatedly failed, leading to skepticism about their credibility. Mead points out that think tanks have historically influenced public opinion more than government policy, but their message has often been flawed, such as the belief that free trade would democratize China and enrich Americans 1.

The American educated elite has gotten so much wrong for so long that public trust in it has declined across the board in both the left and the right.

--- Walter Russell Mead

He also highlights the problem of academia's insular nature, which he believes hinders a practical understanding of world politics. Mead suggests that the foreign policy elite's over-reliance on academic credentials, like PhDs, has led to less effective policies 2.

   

Political Shifts

Mead explores the ideological shifts within American political parties, particularly in their foreign policy approaches. He notes that Democrats, influenced by the Vietnam War, tend to favor soft power and accommodation with different regimes, while Republicans have a different historical perspective, often emphasizing hard power 3. This divergence reflects broader cultural impacts, with Democrats more affected by Vietnam's legacy.

The Democratic Party believes in learning the lessons of Vietnam, that over-reliance on hard power is dangerous.

--- Walter Russell Mead

Mead also discusses the transformation of neoconservatives, many of whom have shifted towards Democratic positions in recent years. He distinguishes himself from this trend, emphasizing that he never fully embraced the neoconservative belief in democracy promotion as a solution to America's power problems 4.