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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The sources explore how Western culture was intentionally manipulated in the 20th century, particularly after World War II. One of the key instruments of this manipulation was the Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF), founded in 1950 and financed by the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations.

The CCF's objectives were twofold:

• De-Nazification of Germany: This involved purging Nazi ideology and influence from German society.
• Countering Communism: The CCF aimed to combat the spread of communist ideology and cultural influence, particularly from the Soviet Union.

The CCF proponents believed that while communism and fascism utilized "realist/rigid iconography" in their propaganda, the "free democratic world" should be represented by abstract and emotional "freedom". They argued that while communism demanded the sacrifice of the individual for the collective, democracies prioritized the individual's freedom, even if it meant prioritizing personal satisfaction over the needs of the whole.

This concept extended to the arts. The CCF promoted art forms that were deliberately anti-reason and anti-order. The more an artwork defied logic and traditional aesthetics, the more it was seen as championing "democracy and liberal capitalism". Examples of such art forms included the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, atonal music like that of Arnold Schoenberg, and existentialist philosophy.

The sources argue that this push for abstract and often pessimistic art was not accidental. It served a strategic purpose. By promoting art that was detached from reason and focused on subjective emotion, the manipulators aimed to create a society that was more susceptible to manipulation and control. They believed that a population engrossed in hedonistic pursuits and detached from traditional values like patriotism, family, and religion would be less likely to question authority or resist manipulation.

The sources present Friedrich Schiller, a German poet and playwright, as a counterpoint to the CCF's vision. Schiller believed in the power of art to elevate humanity and promote a balance between reason and emotion. He argued that true art should strive for universal beauty and timeless truths, rather than reflecting the pessimism and decadence of a particular time. Schiller's ideas influenced great composers like Beethoven and Verdi and promoted a humanist vision that celebrated creativity, reason, and the potential for human progress.

The sources ultimately frame the struggle for cultural dominance as a battle between two opposing forces: those who seek to control and manipulate society by promoting a culture of pessimism, hedonism, and intellectual sterility, and those who believe in the power of art to inspire, elevate, and promote a more just and humane world.

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Robeson believed that large corporations were advancing fascism around the world. He stated that they were "the former enemies of Roosevelt," "the allies of the remains of the Hitler entourage," and "the friends of Franco" who wished to enslave people in Latin America. Robeson argued that these corporations were not representative of the true America, which he defined as the America of Jefferson and Lincoln.

Robeson linked his anti-imperialist views to his vision for a peaceful world. He argued against the Cold War "Stop Russia" rhetoric, saying that it was actually intended to "stop the advance of the colonial peoples of Asia and Africa toward independence". In a 1948 campaign speech for Henry Wallace, Robeson stated that global cooperation was essential for peace, saying, "Either we get along with the Communists, jump in the ocean or blow up the whole world". He believed that Wallace would continue the legacy of Roosevelt, whom Robeson characterized as an opponent of fascism and a proponent of peace and democracy.

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The American Liberty League, formed in 1934, was a significant force opposing FDR's New Deal and promoting an alliance with Axis powers. Financed by wealthy industrialists, including those from the Morgan, Warburg, Dupont, and Rockefeller families, the League utilized its media influence to undermine the New Deal. They controlled many media outlets, radio stations, and publishing houses and worked closely with J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI.

The League attacked the New Deal by portraying it as a socialist program that stifled individual liberty and economic growth. They painted Roosevelt as a "Keynesian," despite the fact that he and John Maynard Keynes held each other in low regard.

Instead of the New Deal, the American Liberty League championed the "Austrian School" of economics, which advocated for minimal government intervention. The Austrian School is based on the theories of Carl Menger and his followers, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich von Hayek, Frank Knight, and Sir John Clapham. They promoted this economic model through a network of newly established think tanks, such as the American Enterprise Association (later renamed the American Enterprise Institute).

Although the American Liberty League officially disbanded in 1940, its wealthy backers continued to fund the spread of "Austrian School" economics through various think tanks. These think tanks would later help shape the "conservative revolution" of the 1970s. After FDR's death, members of these groups also became influential in promoting the McCarthyite "communist witch hunts" during the Cold War.

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Sun Yat-sen's economic vision for China was rooted in the principles of the "American System of Political Economy," as championed by figures like Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln. The sources highlight Sun's admiration for Lincoln and his economic policies, particularly the emphasis on protectionism, internal improvements, and national banking.

Let's explore the key elements of Sun Yat-sen's economic thought:

• Rejection of Class Struggle: Sun Yat-sen disagreed with the Marxist idea of class struggle as the driving force of societal progress. He believed that "society progresses through the adjustment of major economic interests rather than through the clash of interests". In other words, he envisioned a system where different economic groups could collaborate and find common ground for the betterment of society.
• Emphasis on Technological Progress and Industrialization: Sun Yat-sen placed great importance on scientific and technological advancement as the primary drivers of progress and improving living standards. He argued that China should embrace modern technology to enhance productivity and overcome economic challenges. He specifically pointed to the need for industrial growth, suggesting, "if China with human labor can support four hundred millions, she should with machine power produce enough for eight hundred millions".
• Protective Tariffs for National Development: Sun Yat-sen was a staunch advocate for protective tariffs to shield and nurture domestic industries from foreign competition. He believed that this approach would allow local industries to flourish and contribute to overall national economic growth.
• Internal Improvements through Infrastructure Development: Inspired by Lincoln's focus on internal improvements, Sun Yat-sen stressed the importance of large-scale infrastructure projects, such as railroads, roads, and energy systems. He recognized that such investments were crucial for connecting different regions of China, facilitating trade, and promoting economic growth. He stated that "we must use the great power of the state and imitate the United States’ methods".
• State-Directed Capitalism with a Focus on People's Livelihood: While critical of unchecked capitalism, Sun Yat-sen wasn't opposed to private enterprise. He believed in a system where the state played an active role in guiding economic development while ensuring that the benefits reached all segments of society. This approach aimed to strike a balance between state power and individual liberty while prioritizing the well-being of the people, a core principle of the Confucian "minsheng".

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The American System of National Economy is neither "socialist/communist" nor "free trade capitalism", nor is it liberalism or totalitarianism. Instead, it is premised on the harmony between the General Welfare and the inalienable rights of each individual citizen. This system, which spread globally after the Union victory in 1865, is presented as a new paradigm of human evolution that emerged as a force for progress in Japan, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, Latin America, and beyond. World leaders recognised this system as an antidote to the systems of oligarchism, depopulation, exploitation, slavery, war, and poverty that had characterised the British Empire for centuries.

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