Podcast Summary: The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Episode: 2445 - Great Power Competition Threatens All Of Us
Guest: Van Jackson, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Release Date: March 3, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 2445 of The Majority Report with Sam Seder, host Sam Seder delves into the escalating tensions of great power competition, particularly focusing on the U.S.-China rivalry and its broader implications for global peace and democracy. Joining him is Van Jackson, a distinguished Senior Lecturer in International Relations and co-author of the book Rivalry Peril: How Great Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy. The episode provides a critical analysis of current geopolitical strategies and their unintended consequences on both international stability and domestic U.S. policies.

Setting the Stage: Current Political Climate

The episode begins with Sam Seder highlighting recent political maneuvers and controversies within the Trump administration, including the abrupt suspension of refugee resettlement programs and questionable economic policies. He underscores the administration's focus on projecting strength against perceived threats, laying the groundwork for a discussion on great power competition.

Notable Quote:

"Grand strategy is not just about being tough; it's about being smart and understanding the long-term consequences of our actions." — Sam Seder [00:01]

Debunking the Myth of the Cold War's Benefits

Van Jackson challenges the commonly held belief among some policymakers that the Cold War era was beneficial for the United States and the world. He argues that the Cold War led to devastating consequences, including millions of deaths, numerous failed regime changes, and a persistent state of global tension.

Key Points:

• The Cold War's legacy is often romantically portrayed, overshadowing its negative impacts.
• Contemporary policymakers may be repeating Cold War-era strategies without acknowledging historical failures.
• Jackson emphasizes that geopolitical rivalries have consistently undermined social democracy and peace.

Notable Quote:

"The Cold War sucked by like any clear-eyed, non-cherry-picked understanding of history." — Van Jackson [31:16]

U.S. Foreign Policy: From Primacy to Imperialism

The conversation shifts to the evolution of U.S. foreign policy from the late 20th century to the present. Jackson critiques the concept of American primacy, arguing that it has morphed into a form of modern imperialism driven by economic nationalism and military one-upmanship.

Key Points:

• The Democratic and Republican parties have both perpetuated a strategy focused on maintaining global dominance.
• Initiatives like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Asian Pivot are seen as attempts to reassert American hegemony.
• Jackson links current policies to the Project for the New American Century, highlighting a continuity of neoconservative strategies.

Notable Quote:

"These are all synonyms, you know what I mean? It's like nobody's confused. It's about American dominance." — Van Jackson [42:54]

Great Power Competition and Its Domestic Implications

Sam Seder and the panel explore how the U.S.-China rivalry impacts domestic policies and societal well-being. Jackson argues that the focus on external threats diverts attention and resources from pressing internal issues, leading to weakened social programs and increased economic instability.

Key Points:

• Defense spending remains disproportionately high, justified by the need to counter China.
• Policies under both Biden and Trump administrations are driven by an agenda to maintain supremacy rather than address domestic needs.
• The narrative of great power competition serves to justify cuts to social services and economic support programs.

Notable Quote:

"Geopolitical rivalry tends to be the enemy of all the things that we think are good: peace and democracy, not least." — Van Jackson [34:29]

The Role of the Defense Industry and Technological Militarization

The discussion delves into the symbiotic relationship between the U.S. defense industry and technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). Jackson contends that the defense sector profits by perpetuating a state of perpetual crisis, necessitating continuous investment in military technologies.

Key Points:

• Companies like Palantir, Anduril, and SpaceX benefit from defense contracts driven by the China threat narrative.
• Investment in AI and other technologies is often justified by national security needs, regardless of actual profitability.
• Jackson warns that this militarization diverts funds from essential public services and exacerbates economic inequality.

Notable Quote:

"They are selling the China threat to the public as their business model and then telling the US Government, pay me because we're your answer to fighting China." — Van Jackson [55:33]

China's Global Strategy and Its Impact on the Developing World

Jackson provides an insightful analysis of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for developing nations. He explains how China's investment strategies often exacerbate existing local conditions, fostering dependency and undermining democratic institutions.

Key Points:

• The BRI offers an alternative to IMF loans, attracting countries by eliminating stringent conditionalities.
• China's investments in infrastructure projects in Africa and Southeast Asia often align with their own economic and strategic interests.
• Jackson critiques the lack of transparency and the exploitative nature of these investments, which prioritize resource extraction and geopolitical leverage.

Notable Quote:

"Governments are trapped in this choice and it's a choice of our making in a way." — Van Jackson [74:11]

Trump and Biden: Continuity of Imperialist Policies

The conversation highlights the similarities between the Trump and Biden administrations in their approach to China. Jackson argues that despite different political banners, both administrations perpetuate a form of imperialism that prioritizes global dominance over genuine diplomatic engagement.

Key Points:

• Both administrations maintain high defense budgets justified by the China threat.
• Jackson points out that policies under both leaderships often serve the interests of the defense and tech industries rather than the public.
• The continuation of aggressive posturing towards China underlines a systemic issue within U.S. foreign policy.

Notable Quote:

"Trump is still doing China rivalry, but a great power competition. It's not like a grand strategy, though." — Van Jackson [50:37]

Implications for Peace and Democracy

Jackson underscores the detrimental effects of great power competition on global peace and democratic institutions. He posits that the relentless focus on rivalry and dominance undermines efforts to build cooperative international relationships and address global challenges collaboratively.

Key Points:

• Geopolitical tensions destabilize regions and hinder collective action on issues like climate change and human rights.
• The narrative of competition distracts from building resilient domestic systems that can foster social and economic well-being.
• Jackson advocates for a reorientation of foreign policy towards cooperative engagement and addressing root causes of global insecurity.

Notable Quote:

"The solution is to put more money in the pockets of Chinese workers. The trouble and the reason why the CCP won't do that is because it's not clear that they would still be the world's factory if costs went up that much, if wages went up that much." — Van Jackson [73:24]

Conclusion: Rethinking U.S. Foreign Policy

As the episode wraps up, Sam Seder and Van Jackson call for a fundamental reassessment of U.S. foreign policy. They emphasize the need to move away from a dominance-centric approach and instead focus on fostering genuine international cooperation and addressing domestic socio-economic issues.

Key Takeaways:

• The mythologization of the Cold War benefits current geopolitical strategies that may be detrimental to global and domestic well-being.
• Great power competition, particularly with China, is perpetuating a cycle of militarization and economic exploitation.
• A shift towards cooperative diplomacy and investment in social democracy is essential for sustainable peace and democracy.

Notable Quote:

"If we abandoned primacy, if we didn't relate to the world in a predatory way, we would be a lot better off. We wouldn't have these problems and China wouldn't appear as nearly as threatening." — Van Jackson [77:34]

Final Thoughts

Episode 2445 of The Majority Report presents a compelling critique of the ongoing great power competition, particularly the U.S.-China rivalry. Van Jackson's insights challenge listeners to reconsider the underlying motivations and consequences of current foreign policies, advocating for a more cooperative and inward-focused approach to ensure global stability and democratic resilience.

For more information, listeners are encouraged to check out Van Jackson's book, Rivalry Peril: How Great Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy, and subscribe to his Undiplomatic newsletter on Substack.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Sam Seder [00:01]: "Grand strategy is not just about being tough; it's about being smart and understanding the long-term consequences of our actions."
• Van Jackson [31:16]: "The Cold War sucked by like any clear-eyed, non-cherry-picked understanding of history."
• Van Jackson [42:54]: "These are all synonyms, you know what I mean? It's like nobody's confused. It's about American dominance."
• Van Jackson [34:29]: "Geopolitical rivalry tends to be the enemy of all the things that we think are good: peace and democracy, not least."
• Van Jackson [55:33]: "They are selling the China threat to the public as their business model and then telling the US Government, pay me because we're your answer to fighting China."
• Van Jackson [74:11]: "Governments are trapped in this choice and it's a choice of our making in a way."
• Van Jackson [50:37]: "Trump is still doing China rivalry, but a great power competition. It's not like a grand strategy, though."
• Van Jackson [73:24]: "The solution is to put more money in the pockets of Chinese workers. The trouble and the reason why the CCP won't do that is because it's not clear that they would still be the world's factory if costs went up that much, if wages went up that much."
• Van Jackson [77:34]: "If we abandoned primacy, if we didn't relate to the world in a predatory way, we would be a lot better off. We wouldn't have these problems and China wouldn't appear as nearly as threatening."