A Letter from the Editors

The nature of power has changed considerably in the twenty-first century. Military strength remains essential, but influence is increasingly determined by technological innovation, economic resilience, institutional credibility, and the ability to shape the global narrative. As the United States confronts ever-ambitious rivals in China, Russia, and Iran, the question is no longer whether strategic competition has returned, but whether America is prepared to compete across every domain that now defines global influence.

This reality should not invite pessimism. Throughout American history, the United States has repeatedly adapted to new strategic challenges by drawing on innovation, strong institutions, and principled leadership.The authors in this issue of The Hamiltonian offer further evidence that the next generation is prepared to grapple with the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Every generation inherits its own strategic landscape. Ours is defined not by a single battlefield, but by a world in which influence is contested across laboratories, legislatures, markets, alliances, and the information sphere. The essays that follow examine this reality from different perspectives, yet each grapples with the same fundamental question: How should the United States exercise its power and leadership in an era of renewed strategic competition? What lessons from history should guide us? What mistakes should we avoid? The scholarship that follows offers reason for optimism about the future of American statecraft and demonstrates that the next generation is ready to help shape it.

Ethan Chiu opens this issue with a reflection on first principles of American statecraft as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. He argues that the United States remains fundamentally revolutionary, founded on the principle that legitimate government derives from the consent of the governed. From this foundation, he contends that support for Taiwan is not an exercise in ideological crusading but a defense of self-government against authoritarian coercion. American foreign policy, he argues, should protect free societies where possible while recognizing the limits of American power. Benson Pham argues that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is no longer merely a technological issue, but the defining geopolitical contest of the twenty-first century. Because China has elevated AGI to a strategic national priority, he contends that the United States should pursue an American-style public-private partnership modeled on successful efforts such as the War Production Board (WPB), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (SEMATECH) to preserve its innovative edge.

Strategic competition also requires understanding the vulnerabilities of adversaries. Clement Tsao examines the changing military balance in the Indo-Pacific and argues that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would contain a critical operational weakness. America’s sustained advantage in limited nuclear capabilities could exploit that vulnerability, making an invasion of Taiwan prohibitively costly while avoiding uncontrolled escalation. His essay challenges readers to reconsider the role of deterrence in an era of shifting military balances.

The Indo-Pacific will certainly not be shaped by American policy alone. Ada Shu analyzes the implications of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s conservative leadership for Japan’s foreign policy, especially regarding Taiwan. She argues that a more assertive and militarily capable Japan could strengthen deterrence against China and reinforce the U.S.-Japan alliance. At the same time, she notes the risk that nationalist politics may intensify tensions with neighboring states and complicate efforts to maintain a stable regional coalition.

Wells Benjamin’s contribution then turns to internal developments in China, analyzing the thought of the “gray eminence” Wang Huning. Following a careful reading of Huning’s influential book, America against America, Benjamin highlights how this shadowy academic’s analysis of American society has influenced Chinese domestic reforms under President Xi Jinping. Benjamin notes that many of the weaknesses Huning diagnosed in the United States are now present in Chinese society. 

Competition with great powers also shapes American priorities closer to home. Zane Holley examines the Trump administration’s renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere and analyzes the strategic logic behind the Trump Corollary. His essay explores how regional engagement fits into broader efforts to compete with rival powers in an increasingly contested international system. 

Effective grand strategy also depends upon the sound management of domestic institutions. Abigail German explores how politically polarizing military policies have historically undermined American military effectiveness. Drawing lessons from the Spanish-American War, she demonstrates how public controversies can obscure deeper structural problems within military institutions, weakening the nation’s preparedness for great-power competition. Additional lessons about the consequences of conflict and the societies that endure it can be found in the following essay. Charles Schell examines the cultural legacy of the First World War through the scholarship of Jay Winter. By exploring how families and communities mourned unprecedented levels of loss, he illuminates the social and political consequences of mass warfare and the enduring importance of collective memory in shaping national identity.

Our final two authors turn to two increasingly important domains of modern competition: finance and technology. Hamilton fought for the integrity and success of America’s early financial institutions, and Alex Sturza explores the way those systems have expanded in recent years. He analyzes weaknesses in the American anti-money laundering system, focusing on the role of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the challenges facing U.S. financial institutions. There are existing tools that could be employed more effectively to combat illicit finance and strengthen America’s economic security, he argues; it is only a matter of action.

Ashley Dowdney concludes the issue by examining the growing competition over artificial intelligence in the Persian Gulf. As regional powers seek to balance relationships with both Washington and Beijing, she argues that the United States possesses significant opportunities to shape these choices and maintain its technological advantage over China. 

No single essay offers a blueprint for American grand strategy, nor should it. Effective statecraft demands debate, competing ideas, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. That spirit animates this edition of The Hamiltonian. Whether examining artificial intelligence, financial security, military deterrence, or democratic governance, these authors recognize that the United States is enduring a period in which strategic advantages will be earned and not assumed. Their scholarship reflects an encouraging reality: a new generation is already engaging the defining policy debates of the twenty-first century with seriousness, initiative, and intellectual ambition.