Niall Ferguson: US' diminishing sources of power

In an opinion piece published by Bloomberg on January 14, Niall Ferguson, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, highlighted the significant ways in which the United States is losing its traditional sources of power.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's contemporary definition of "sources of American power," encompassing "'Bidenomics', revamped alliances, reform of international institutions, and economic and technological containment of hostile powers", is viewed by Ferguson as necessitating a swift reevaluation.

Ferguson asserts that the United States is undergoing a transformation, departing from its accustomed position. He identifies seven specific domains in which America has eroded the foundations of its power in recent years. These are immigration, the rule of law, education, public health, innovation, fiscal responsibility, and legitimacy both domestically and internationally.

While the United States still possesses many of the sources of power that have defined it for a century, Ferguson questions the extent to which the nation retains the will to wield that power effectively.