The Atlantic has published critiques of President Donald Trump, showcasing insights from various commentators including David Fulham, Max Boot, and Anne Applebaum. Recently, political scientist Brian Klaas contributed an article that accuses Trump of undermining the “promotion of American democracy.”
If Klaas is on point, it seems Americans may owe Trump some gratitude.
Klaas’s primary concern appears to be using American resources to forward his lofty ideals of global democracy and universal human rights.
You might think that the experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq would have tempered democratic advocates in the U.S., but they still persist. Similarly, one could have hoped that the failures of Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy or the tumultuous aftermath of the “Arab Spring” would have encouraged some reflection, but that hasn’t happened.
Klaas seems to believe that the world can eventually turn democratic through purposeful foreign policy efforts.
Reinterpreting History
Klaas contends that the Trump administration has turned away from a long-standing commitment to promoting democracy in the West.
Maybe Klaas hasn’t looked into George Washington’s farewell address, which recommended that American foreign policy focus on national interests. Or perhaps he overlooked John Quincy Adams’s speech from July 4, 1821, which cautioned against seeking conflicts abroad.
While Klaas may view Wilsonian ideals as foundational to American tradition, they have largely appealed only to certain liberal internationalists and neoconservatives.
Klaas references a “democratic boom” during Bill Clinton’s presidency, attributing it to the conclusion of the Cold War. However, he seems to view this as the start of a transformative shift, where ideals of freedom and democracy overcame opposing governance models.
In doing so, he might be invoking Francis Fukuyama’s flawed “end of history” theory. Since then, it has become evident that history is very much alive, and democracy often falters in nations with little experience in such governance.
Fukuyama was mistaken; Samuel Huntington’s observations in “The Clash of Civilizations” hold more weight in this context. One has to wonder if Klaas has delved into works by Huntington, Toynbee, or even Spengler on this matter.
Authoritarianism Masquerading as Democracy
Klaas criticizes Trump for his praise of authoritarian leaders, yet both Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt have similarly shown admiration for figures like Lenin and Stalin. Klaas asserts that Trump is apathetic toward democracy, but really, Trump doesn’t prioritize it in his foreign policy agenda.
Unlike Wilson or FDR, Trump isn’t about righting every global wrong, as Klaas seems to advocate. Klaas hopes to use military might to further his human rights and democracy agenda, expressing dismay that authoritarian regimes no longer dread U.S. condemnation or military action.
The professor’s liberal stance is evident in his denunciation of past U.S. interventions, such as the overthrow of Iran’s Mosaddegh, the installation of pro-American leaders, and disruptions to various socialist regimes.
Klaas aligns with ideals that often prioritize global democracy over American interests, which contrasts sharply with Trump’s “America First” approach. I can’t help but question the efficacy of Klaas’s style of promoting democracy.
