The sources provide a historical overview of America's approach to foreign policy, highlighting two contrasting approaches: one advocating for global peace and cooperation, the other promoting American dominance.

One perspective, articulated by figures like John Quincy Adams, George Washington, Henry Wallace, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, emphasizes peace, cooperation, and mutual respect in international relations. This view advocates for:

• Respecting the independence and sovereignty of all nations: This principle is evident in John Quincy Adams's assertion that America "has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own". George Washington similarly urged the nation to "observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all".
• Avoiding foreign entanglements and alliances: Both Washington and Adams cautioned against becoming embroiled in European conflicts and alliances. Washington warned against "passionate attachments" to other nations, arguing that such attachments could lead to unnecessary wars and betrayals of national interest. Adams echoed this sentiment, stating that America should avoid becoming "entangled" in the "toils of European ambition".
• Promoting freedom and democracy through example and support, not force: Adams maintained that America's "glory is not dominion, but liberty", and that the nation should promote freedom by example and support rather than by imposing its will on others. This principle found expression in Henry Wallace's articulation of the "Century of the Common Man", which envisioned a world where all people have the opportunity to attain freedom and prosperity through education, economic development, and self-governance.
• Utilizing American resources to promote global development and well-being: This ideal found expression in Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor Policy", which sought to foster cooperation and development in the Americas. This policy translated into concrete actions, such as supporting Mexico's right to control its own oil resources and extending credit for infrastructure projects. Wallace envisioned a similar approach on a global scale, arguing that "modern science, when devoted whole-heartedly to the general welfare, has in it potentialities of which we do not yet dream".

Contrasting this vision is a more interventionist and self-interested approach, epitomized by figures like Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Henry Kissinger. This approach, often associated with the "Deep State", is characterized by:

• A belief in American exceptionalism and its role in shaping the world order: This viewpoint is evident in Kissinger's address at Chatham House, where he contrasted the American and British approaches to foreign policy. He argued that while Britain understood the importance of realpolitik and maintaining a balance of power, America tended toward "moral crusading" and seeking to remake the world in its image. This difference, according to Kissinger, led to America prioritizing its own ideological preferences over the need to contain Soviet influence in the postwar era.

A willingness to use force and covert operations to advance American interests: This tendency is visible in the historical examples of American interventions in Latin America, often justified as upholding the Monroe Doctrine but in reality serving to protect American economic and strategic interests. Kissinger's own career, marked by his involvement in the Vietnam War and support for various coups and covert operations, exemplifies this approach.

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The sources discuss China's Move South Water North Project, a large-scale water diversion project that aims to address water shortages in northern China. The project involves diverting water from the Yangtze River in the south to the Yellow River basin in the north. The sources highlight three key routes of this project:

• The Eastern Route, completed in 2013, diverts water from the Yangtze to Tianjin through tunnels and pumping stations.
• The Central Route, completed in 2014, diverts water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir on the Han River to Beijing through tunnels.
• The Western Route, expected to be completed by 2050, will divert water from the Yangtze and its tributaries to the Yellow River through the Tibetan Plateaus.

The sources present this project as an example of "non-zero-sum thinking," which views ecosystems and economies as interconnected systems where solutions can be found by considering the needs of all parts.

The sources contrast this with the "zero-sum thinking" that they argue characterizes approaches to water management in North America. They propose that the North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA), a project conceived in the 1960s, could offer a similar non-zero-sum solution to water shortages in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. You previously summarized this project as:

• A project that was conceived in the 1960s to address water shortages in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
• The project involved collecting and diverting water from rivers in Alaska and Canada to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
• The project was supported by politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties, including Robert Kennedy.
• In 1965, the NAWAPA project became federal legislation in the United States.
• Despite this, the project ultimately lost momentum and faded into obscurity during the Vietnam War.
• The project resurfaced in a 2012 film.
• The project's history was also explored in a 2012 study, which examined the role of former British Columbia Premier W.A.C. Bennett in its development.

The sources note that NAWAPA involved plans for dams, lifts, tunnels, and canals to move water from Alaska and Canada to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. While NAWAPA ultimately lost momentum, the sources suggest that it, like China's Move South Water North Project, represents a potential solution to water crises based on non-zero-sum thinking and large-scale infrastructure development.

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The sources describe how China charted its own course of economic development, contrasting it with the "Third Wave" theory advocated by futurist Alvin Toffler and embraced by certain Chinese figures like Zhao Ziyang. Here's a breakdown:

• Toffler's "Third Wave": Toffler proposed that societal evolution progresses in waves, with the "Third Wave" representing an information-driven society that transcends traditional industrialism. He believed developing nations could bypass the "Second Wave" of industrialization and leap directly into this information age. This approach aligned with the interests of figures like Henry Kissinger, who envisioned a post-national world order where countries like China functioned as sources of cheap labor for Western consumer markets. Zhao Ziyang, influenced by Toffler, advocated for "special economic zones" focused on low-tech manufacturing for export, with investments directed towards information-based industries like genetic engineering and AI, neglecting large-scale infrastructure and development projects.
• China's Rejection of the "Third Wave": The sources argue that China ultimately rejected this model, recognizing its inherent limitations and potential for exploitation. After the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, which the sources frame as a failed color revolution orchestrated by figures like George Soros and Zhao Ziyang, China purged proponents of this "Third Wave" approach. Instead, China pursued a path of economic development centered around:
• Sovereign Economic Policy: Maintaining control over its economic destiny through national banking and separating commercial and investment banking activities.
• Centralized Planning: Utilizing the strength of a central government to guide long-term development strategies and prioritize national interests.
• Technological Progress: Investing in large-scale infrastructure projects and promoting scientific innovation across various fields to achieve genuine economic growth and improve living standards.
• The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): This initiative, launched in 2013, embodies China's chosen path, emphasizing global cooperation, win-win partnerships, and shared technological advancement to create a more multipolar and equitable world order. The sources suggest this approach aligns with the "Four Modernizations" vision articulated by Zhou Enlai, which stressed balanced development across industrial, agricultural, defense, and scientific/technological sectors.

In essence, China's economic trajectory diverged from the "Third Wave" model by prioritizing national sovereignty, strategic planning, and technological progress as the foundations for genuine economic growth and global cooperation.

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