January 27, 2023
Welcome to Home & Away. As the name suggests, this newsletter (to be published Fridays) is devoted to things domestic and international, and somewhat more specifically, to challenges to American democracy and world order. I have chosen this focus because I am more concerned than ever about both.
It is also the case that the two domains are closely connected. What happens in the world inevitably affects us here at home – whatever else our borders are, they are not effective moats – and what happens here at home affects the appeal of democracy elsewhere, the performance of economies everywhere, and the perceptions of friends and foes alike of American willingness and ability to act in the world.
With that out of the way, let’s get to it.
There are any number of international topics that deserve and have received attention of late, including China’s strengths and weaknesses, North Korea’s expanding nuclear and missile inventory, protests in Iran as well as the advances in that country’s nuclear program, climate change, and much much more.
But it is the war in Ukraine that has garnered the most focus this week, in particular the decision by the United States and Germany to provide Ukraine with tanks. There was reluctance to do so, reluctance born more than anything else of worry over possible Russian reactions and escalation. But the need to maintain Western unity prevailed lest Putin conclude (as he hopes) that time is on his side. The military transfers should also help Ukraine defend against any new Russian offensive; less clear is that they will enable successful offensive operations against well-fortified Russian forces inside Ukraine. And there is no reason to believe they will put an end to Russian attacks on Ukrainian society and infrastructure. For the foreseeable future, the war is likely to go on—and on.
At home, the leading story (or stories to be more precise) involved mass shootings. It is a classic case demonstrating how rights alone do not make for a functioning democracy. How does one balance the right of some to acquire guns and the right of others to be safe? The good news (at least in principle) is that there is a middle ground between current minimal regulation of guns and draconian limits.
My middle ground would include both background checks and waiting periods as well as limits on automatic weapons and the like. What is missing is stronger political efforts on behalf of such a middle ground. Most of the political intensity is on the side of those opposing any such limits even though polls indicate a majority of Americans tend to favor them. Politicians may not be always be responsible, but they are always responsive, and the politics of access to guns will only change when more voter reward introducing limited but meaningful restraints.
My week was largely taken up with the publication of my new book, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens. The premise is that our democracy needs to place greater emphasis on our obligations to one another and this country if American democracy is to survive much less thrive.
To be clear, obligations are things we individually and collectively should do rather than must do as required by law, and include being informed, getting involved, staying open to compromise, remining civil, rejecting violence, valuing norms, promoting the common good, respecting government service, supporting the teaching of civics, and putting the country first. As you might expect, the book has a good deal to say about why these obligations are so central and what it would take to put them into practice. All of which is to say I hope you will read it.
I published four shorter pieces this week on themes from the book and appeared on any number of television and radio programs and podcasts. You can find links to them below. For now, thanks for reading Home & Away, and I hope it will become a habit for you each and every Friday.
Richard Haass in the news
Monday, January 23, 2023: MSNBC Morning Joe, NPR Morning Edition
Tuesday, January 24, 2023: MSNBC Morning Joe, PBS Amanpour & Co., Hugh Hewitt
Wednesday, January 25, 2023: MSNBC Morning Joe, MSNBC Katy Tur, Fox News Radio Brian Kilmeade Show, CNN This Morning
Thursday, January 26, 2023: MSNBC Morning Joe, Good Morning America
Articles
Why We Need Civics, The Atlantic
We need to preserve American democracy. Here’s how to do it, Boston Globe
The World’s Stake in American Democracy, Project Syndicate
Podcasts
President's Inbox
Diane Rehm: On My Mind
Stand Up! with Pete Dominick
Book Review