US Power Will Decline Under Trump, Says Futurist Who Predicted Soviet Collapse

[Will Wiley]

US Power Will Decline Under Trump, Says Futurist Who Predicted Soviet Collapse

Galtung is not pessimistic about his forecasts, though. Having always seen the collapse of the “US empire” as inevitable—much like the collapse of the Soviet empire—he argues that there is real opportunity for a revitalization of the “American republic.”

The American republic is characterised by its dynamism, its support for the ideals of freedom and liberty, its productivity and creativity, and its cosmopolitanism toward the ‘other.’

Might Trump help revitalize the American republic?

Galtung’s answer is, perhaps, revealing: “If he manages to apologize deeply to all the groups he has insulted. And turn foreign policy from US interventions—soon 250 after Jefferson in Libya 1801—and not use wars (killing more than 20 million in 37 countries after 1945): A major revitalization! Certainly making ‘America Great Again’. We’ll see.”

From 2010
[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPJ9x9RBQlU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Of course. That's why you wanted him elected.

 

[Will Wiley]

Of course. That's why you wanted him elected.

Well I would love to see the USA blossom, yes. I would love to see the USA do well.

But it wont happen while they waste trillions of dollars fighting wars they never win, whilst so many ordinary Americans are suffering at home and paying for it.

 

[Horatio Parker]

I think this guy is wrong; the end of American power isn't yet in sight.

Our military power is unequalled, we have no real rivals for global supremacy. The entire planet wants us to open our markets and give us stuff in exchange for dollars.

There is rising tension, but that's the result of oppressive unequal neoliberal policies. If we had more equitable domestic policy, this would be a golden age.

 

[Will Wiley]

I think this guy is wrong; the end of American power isn't yet in sight.

Our military power is unequalled, we have no real rivals for global supremacy. The entire planet wants us to open our markets and give us stuff in exchange for dollars.

There is rising tension, but that's the result of oppressive unequal neoliberal policies. If we had more equitable domestic policy, this would be a golden age.

You don't seem to be disagreeing with Galtung though.
He predicted the end of the US "empire" not the end of American power.

In fact he sees a possible blossoming for America as the "empire" ends. It is likely easier to have a better domestic policy when America stop squandering money on wars and sending its young men to die in pointless wars

 

[laughing dog]

The US "empire" has been declining for years and will continue to decline regardless of who is the US President.

 

[Will Wiley]

The US "empire" has been declining for years and will continue to decline regardless of who is the US President.

So you agree with Galtung as well

 

[Horatio Parker]

I think this guy is wrong; the end of American power isn't yet in sight.

Our military power is unequalled, we have no real rivals for global supremacy. The entire planet wants us to open our markets and give us stuff in exchange for dollars.

There is rising tension, but that's the result of oppressive unequal neoliberal policies. If we had more equitable domestic policy, this would be a golden age.

You don't seem to be disagreeing with Galtung though.
He predicted the end of the US "empire" not the end of American power.

In fact he sees a possible blossoming for America as the "empire" ends. It is likely easier to have a better domestic policy when America stop squandering money on wars and sending its young men to die in pointless wars

I'm disagreeing with both of you, AFAICT.

I think our wars are diddly squat in relationship to our size and power.

Granted, they're usually stupid or counterproductive and a waste of resources. But compared to the wealth and power we have, it's inconsequential.

 

[LordKiran]

You don't seem to be disagreeing with Galtung though.
He predicted the end of the US "empire" not the end of American power.

In fact he sees a possible blossoming for America as the "empire" ends. It is likely easier to have a better domestic policy when America stop squandering money on wars and sending its young men to die in pointless wars

I'm disagreeing with both of you, AFAICT.

I think our wars are diddly squat in relationship to our size and power.

Granted, they're usually stupid or counterproductive and a waste of resources. But compared to the wealth and power we have, it's inconsequential.

Given the amount of money we spent on war over the last decade could have at least put a dent into our declining infrastructure if not paid for its restoration completely, I wouldn't call it inconsequential.

 

[Horatio Parker]

I'm disagreeing with both of you, AFAICT.

I think our wars are diddly squat in relationship to our size and power.

Granted, they're usually stupid or counterproductive and a waste of resources. But compared to the wealth and power we have, it's inconsequential.

Given the amount of money we spent on war over the last decade could have at least put a dent into our declining infrastructure if not paid for its restoration completely, I wouldn't call it inconsequential.

I don't disagree that the resources would've been better used elsewhere.

The point is that when compared with what it took to say defeat the Japanese, it's nothing.

 

[Will Wiley]

You don't seem to be disagreeing with Galtung though.
He predicted the end of the US "empire" not the end of American power.

In fact he sees a possible blossoming for America as the "empire" ends. It is likely easier to have a better domestic policy when America stop squandering money on wars and sending its young men to die in pointless wars

I'm disagreeing with both of you, AFAICT.
.

You are?
His predictions are I believe that the US will

1.Slowly stop making wars wars
2. Withdraw military bases
3.Discover negotiation rather than arm twisting
4.They will discover dialogue rather than assuming the Us always has the answer
5. They may discover equitable trade
6. A more isolationist President
7. Strong defence of the homeland rather than military bases.


[YOUTUBE]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkBtOPvfB_k[/YOUTUBE]

Do you see any of these happening?

 

[Horatio Parker]

From the end of the Napoleonic wars until WWI, when their empire reached its zenith, the British fought many small wars but no major wars.

The US since 1945 is in a comparable period. Will it last a century? Dunno...

Was anyone in Britain forseeing the end of empire after WWI? It was a generation away at that point.

 

[Horatio Parker]

Do you see any of these happening?

No. There's talk, but OTOH there always been a isolationist streak in the US.

 

[Will Wiley]

Do you see any of these happening?

No. There's talk, but OTOH there always been a isolationist streak in the US.

I mean do you see them (possibly) happening? As in the "prediction" coming true.

 

[laughing dog]

The US "empire" has been declining for years and will continue to decline regardless of who is the US President.

So you agree with Galtung as well

No, because the decline is not due to Trump.

 

[whichphilosophy]

The US "empire" has been declining for years and will continue to decline regardless of who is the US President.

Correct. The UK is also in a sharp decline internationally and domestically.

 

[Will Wiley]

So you agree with Galtung as well

No, because the decline is not due to Trump.

You don't understand what Galtung has said.

Galtung is quite clear that the fate of the US empire is not decided inside the US. Only the implications are

 

[Horatio Parker]

No. There's talk, but OTOH there always been a isolationist streak in the US.

I mean do you see them (possibly) happening? As in the "prediction" coming true.

Possibly? Why not?

None of which speaks much to their predictive power.

 

[Will Wiley]

del

 

[laughing dog]

No, because the decline is not due to Trump.

You don't understand what Galtung has said.

Galtung is quite clear that the fate of the US empire is not decided inside the US. Only the implications are

I understand Galtung well enough. In fact, I understood it before he opened his mouth, as did anyone who has read Paul Kennedy's The Rise and Decline of Nations (which was written over 20 years ago).