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Jeffrey Sachs: There Is No Shortcut to Peace | Endgame #175 (Luminaries)

Gita Wirjawan・35 minutes read

Jeffrey Sachs explains that Ukraine will not join NATO, urging US leaders to understand this to achieve peace. The conflict in Ukraine is seen as a proxy war between the US and Russia, driven by American arrogance and insistence on arming Ukraine, leading to tensions and the need for a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.

Insights

  • The conflict in Ukraine is a proxy war between the US and Russia, with Ukraine not planning to join NATO, leading to tensions and territorial claims by Russia not present previously.
  • The US's historical focus on regime change operations caused a failure to anticipate China's rise, resulting in geopolitical challenges in a multipolar world, highlighting the need for a shift in global strategy towards embracing multipolarity and cooperation over military alliances.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Jeffrey Sachs?

    Economist, author, professor, director at Columbia University.

  • Why is Ukraine not joining NATO?

    To avoid conflict and achieve peace.

  • What caused Russia to claim territory in Ukraine?

    Due to recent war developments.

  • Where did Jeffrey Sachs grow up?

    Detroit, Michigan, in a Jewish community.

  • How did the global order shift post-World War II?

    From unipolar to multipolar with China's rise.

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Summary

00:00

"Jeffrey Sachs on US, Russia, and China"

  • Jeffrey Sachs is a best-selling author, economist, professor, and director at the Center of Sustainable Development at Columbia University.
  • Ukraine is not going to join NATO, and the United States leaders need to understand this to achieve peace.
  • Russia is claiming territory in Ukraine due to war, which was not claimed three years ago.
  • Jeffrey Sachs grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in a Jewish community that valued education and professional development.
  • Sachs attended public school and later Harvard College, where he stayed for 30 years, earning his bachelor's, master's, and PhD degrees.
  • The global order shifted from unipolar to multipolar after World War II, with the rise of China and economic rebalancing.
  • The US led the world post-World War II, engaging in regime change operations covertly.
  • The US missed China's rise due to its focus on regime change operations, leading to geopolitical tensions in a multipolar world.
  • Southeast Asia is more accustomed to multipolarity than the US, which struggles to embrace it.
  • The US and Britain have Evangelical Protestant political cultures, with a history of imperial conquest based on religious destiny and racial components.

20:58

US Global Dominance and Diplomatic Criticism

  • Britain and the United States believed in a mission of civilization, with a sense of race superiority following Darwin's theories.
  • The US, geographically separated by two large oceans, struggled with global geography knowledge.
  • The US was economically dominant post-World War II, with significant scientific breakthroughs.
  • The US had an evangelical spirit of leading and saving the world, despite ignorance in global history and geography.
  • American diplomats were criticized for their rude and disrespectful approach to diplomacy.
  • The US spent significantly more on defense compared to the UN budget, leading to questions about the effectiveness of diplomacy.
  • The US military bases in 80 countries were seen as excessive, with a call for a norm against stationing troops outside national borders.
  • The UN doctrine of non-intervention was highlighted as a way to prevent wars by respecting other countries' internal affairs.
  • The conflict in Ukraine was explained as a proxy war between the US and Russia over influence in the region.
  • The US's aggressive approach in Ukraine was compared to a hypothetical scenario of China influencing Mexico, leading to tensions with Russia.

39:35

"Global conflicts, economy, and solutions explained"

  • The war in Ukraine is a result of American arrogance and insistence on arming Ukraine despite their offer to remain neutral in 2008, 2014, 2021, and April 2022.
  • Ukraine will not join NATO as Russia will defeat them through conventional or nuclear means.
  • The conflict in Israel and Palestine stems from a shift in Zionism from a homeland to a state, leading to dominance over Palestinian territories.
  • Religious fervor in Israel has led to a rejection of a two-state solution and a belief in dominating all of Palestine.
  • The United States' unwavering support for Israel is causing domestic political backlash due to extreme actions and violations of international law.
  • The international community, led by the UN Security Council, should impose a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine to prevent further conflict.
  • The real economy's success depends on education and skills development, with a focus on preparing children for the digital world.
  • Regional cooperation and infrastructure development are crucial for economic growth, with a particular emphasis on the RCEP region.
  • Printing money does not make an economy rich; the focus should be on the real economy and investing in education for future success.
  • The global economy's sustainability lies in regional cooperation, skill development, and a shift towards a more interconnected and educated society.

59:49

"RCEP Region: Economic Powerhouse Through Cooperation"

  • The RCEP region, comprising 15 countries including Australia and New Zealand, could become a dynamic economic powerhouse by focusing on cleaning up economies, transitioning to zero-carbon energy, and adopting advanced technologies like 5G or 6G, instead of being influenced by the United States' push for division and military alliances. Japan's historical hostility towards China is unfounded, as China has never invaded Japan in their long history of being neighbors, except for attempts by the Mongols. Cooperation among East Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea could lead to prosperity in the region, without the need for US military presence or conflicts.
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