This analytical piece revisits the global political landscape between early 2016 and early 2017—a critical juncture marked by Donald Trump’s ascent to the US presidency. His disruptive "America First" foreign policy sent shockwaves across the globe, severely straining historically resilient transatlantic ties. 1. Rhetoric and Realities: Straining the Foundations of NATO From the inception of his presidential campaign, Donald Trump maintained a highly critical, often combative stance toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He frequently dismissed the alliance as "obsolete," arguing that it was structurally ill-equipped to address contemporary, asymmetric counter-terrorism challenges. At the heart of Trump’s grievances were the principles of transactional fairness and American self-interest: An Disproportionate Financial Burden: Trump contended that Washington was shoulder-strapping an unfair share of NATO’s operating costs, ...

In the 21st century, the populist wave has found renewed momentum, weaponizing rapid advancements in digital communication and social algorithms. It now stands as a defining geopolitical challenge that nations worldwide can no longer afford to ignore. 1. Definition and Meaning: A Chameleon-Like Ideology Within the fields of political science and sociology, the conceptualization of "populism" remains fiercely contested. This ambiguity stems from what Yoram Peri characterizes as its "chameleon-like" nature —devoid of a rigid, fixed doctrine, it fluidly adapts to the specific socio-political landscapes of different eras and regions. To achieve conceptual clarity, scholars generally deconstruct populism into three primary dimensions: The Socio-Structural Dimension: Tjitske Akkerman posits that populism is inherently centered on a moral dichotomy between "the pure people" and "the corrupt elite." Crucially, "the ...

1. Secretary Mattis’s Reassurance Mission: Reaffirming the Alliance Core In early February, US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis’s inaugural visit to South Korea and Japan delivered a critical strategic signal. It demonstrated that the Trump administration prioritized stability on the Korean Peninsula and the preservation of the trilateral security architecture—a posture standing in sharp contrast to the transactional and often combative rhetoric deployed during the presidential campaign. Prior to his departure, Secretary Mattis explicitly emphasized Washington's commitment to advancing strategic partnerships rather than abandoning or diminishing its Asia-Pacific allies. This institutional commitment was substantiated by tangible, uninterrupted military deployments: US Forces Japan (USFJ): Approximately 50,000 American personnel remained stationed across various strategic installations. US Forces Korea (USFK): Roughly 28,500 troops remained deployed alongside ad...

Latest update 29 September 2026 Without that common ground, elections become just another battlefield in the information war, and ultimately... democracy will slowly devour itself from the inside. For decades, the White House and the mainstream media have maintained a "frenemy" relationship. They rely on each other, yet constantly question and critique one another. However, in the Post-Truth Era, this once-predictable dance has mutated into something far more dangerous: an information war vying for the power to define "what is real." This isn't just a daily mudslinging match. It is an Epistemic Crisis—a crisis of knowledge that tests whether American democracy can survive if society loses its foundation of shared facts. 1. The Fracture: Forcing the Media into the “Extra-Parliamentary Opposition” The rift between the Trump administration and the press began the moment he stepped into the White House in 2017. The argument over "crowd size" on Inauguratio...