Imperial Hubris

The Arrogance of Chinese Power

Putin also succumbed to the same arrogance of power.

Another casualty of neo conservative hubris might be the idea of spreading democracy itself.

Alternative sources to Russian energy are not the only means to decrease prices.

All this, quite naturally, led to geopolitical hubris, in Washington and in Tel Aviv.

Nonetheless, in an unexpected attack of hubris a couple of years ago, I decided I would try and do that.

To those who view China s rise in a negative light, the country is simply becoming ever more arrogant.

Four years later, Bush s arrogance and mendacity have been exposed for the entire world, including the American public, to see.

In this, Putin s arrogance is failing Russia miserably.

He entered a plea for the urgent necessity of an entity called applied art and emboldened us to look triumphalist Formalism in the face and demand to see its passport.

Arrogance of power and blindness about reality were the two main causes for the decline of the sole remaining superpower.

All of this occurred very peacefully, with no wave of triumphalism, or even much enthusiasm.

The hubris of the Celtic Tiger years is a distant memory, owing to the worst recession in Ireland s history as an independent state.

A moment's reflection should raise another question does Bush's Texas swagger qualify him to remain America's Commander in Chief?

But, neo conservative haughtiness We don t speak to evil ruled out a pragmatic response to Iran s demarche.

But, neo conservative haughtiness We don t speak to evil ruled out a pragmatic response to Iran s demarche.

But a more modest West may stabilize its position with respect to China, particularly at a time when China has become both more arrogant and less confident in its own political and social system.

Turkey is for Europe, beyond its demography, a principle of energy and a cure for pessimism even if, as Erdoğan is showing, self confidence can easily turn into hubris.

So will transatlantic relations remain as poisoned as they are now if Kerry wins? Is Texas swagger merely to be replaced by the distinguished disdain of a Boston Brahmin?

But the main problem is not Obama it is the hubris of Americans belief in their exceptional role in the world a belief that has been abused too many times to promote unnecessary wars.

Next week, they shouldn t be surprised if they see a mirror of each other, because both men have exemplified the arrogance of power.

The two countries haughty behavior for example, criticizing tax regimes in Eastern Europe while themselves failing to comply with the European Union s Stability and Growth Pact appalled other EU countries, especially the newest members. So did their arrogant claim that they alone understood political Europe, and would therefore sew up deals like that on agriculture in October 2002 bilaterally.

Indeed, China s arrogance 100 of the power from the proposed dam was to be exported to China was probably the key factor in precipitating Myanmar s democratic political transition and new openness to the world.

Thailand s public sector is historically plagued by frequent military coups, managed with rare exception by incompetent generals and civilians who rule with condescension towards the people who pay them to serve.

All of this occurred very peacefully, with no wave of triumphalism, or even much enthusiasm. Indeed, the abstention rate for a presidential election had never been higher before the contest between Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Hamas is playing with fire on the Egyptian front, too, having haughtily interrupted the Egyptian led reconciliation process with Mahmoud Abbas s PLO and pledging to derail the Egyptian and Saudi initiative to extend Abbas s presidential term until 2010.

President George W. Bush s declaration of mission accomplished in Iraq five years ago was as hubristic as his current assessment that the surge has delivered a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror is a fantasy.