Dr. Gilbert Doctorow: Is Trump/JD Vance Going to Transform the US Foreign Policy?

Gilbert Doctorow is a professional Russia watcher and actor in Russian affairs going back to 1965. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College (1967), a past Fulbright scholar, and holder of a Ph.D. with honors in history from Columbia University (1975).

After completing his studies, Mr. Doctorow pursued a business career focused on the USSR and Eastern Europe. For twenty-five years he worked for US and European multinationals in marketing and general management with regional responsibility.

From 1998-2002, Doctorow served as the Chairman of the Russian Booker Literary Prize in Moscow. During the 2010-2011 academic year, he was a Visiting scholar of the Harriman Institute, Columbia University.

Since 2008, Mr. Doctorow has been regularly publishing analytical articles about international affairs on the portal of the Belgian daily La Libre Belgique. From this material he produced four collections of essays, the most recent of which appeared in October 2017: "Does the United States Have a Future?"

Mr. Doctorow’s next project will be a memoir of his corporate service in Moscow in the wild 1990s.

Mr. Doctorow is an American citizen and a long-time resident of Brussels, Belgium.

[rankoorovic]

Short answer is there will be no change in foreign policy

[edenrosederonsard]

Completely stunned that people like Gilbert Doctorow seriously believe there would be any real change in either US foreign policy or its domestic affairs! On what basis would that be possible when it’s the corporate donors that buy all presidential campaigns and then dictate any policies they want while their chosen candidates legislate and regulate in their favour? He, who pays the piper and all that! Or does he seriously believe that DT will drain the swamp? Please!

[Putins_shirt]

J.D. Vance doesn't like the Ukraine war, but he happily promotes war with Iran.
Is THAT an example of the "Christian" values Doctorow attributes to Vance?

[nashrust]

Judging by comments, people love or hate Dr. Doctorow depending on whether they agree with a particular opinion. If you aren't willing to listen to opinions other than your own then you have no capacity to learn. I like Dr. Doctorow because he makes me think, even if I don't agree with his opinion. He is a great political analyst and worth listening to, otherwise go back to your echo chamber.

[Ilaab]

The US elevated itself to position of "policeman of the world". But let's ask, who would want to live in a city where the police acts like the US? I certainly would not want to live in that city.

[RajMathur-uj]

I am disappointed that neither Nima nor Doctorow raise the issue of Gaza and the zionism of Vance and Trump. Other people have commented that it's racism. I think that all these pundits MUST realize that there is no peace for the Atlanticists without peace in Eurasia. I doubt if I'll come back to these two men.

[stanpennycook]

Except for he took 167 thousand in donations from pro israili groups

[ggdaddy]

I appreciate Doctorow's instincts -- clearly his heart is in the right place, but I think he is way too optimistic about Trump.

Vance deserves very high marks for daring to side with workers against big corporations at a Republican convention. And I do think he showed hints of genuine realism about the futility of war with Russia and China (unfortunately, nothing similar about Gaza). But VPs have no real power in our system, and Trump is both a supply-side elitist on domestic economic matters and a devotee of extractive colonialism. I will be amazed if he can settle the Ukraine War on terms acceptable to the ruthless US Establishment, and even more so if he can meaningfully help working people.

Doctorow is also right that Trump was brutally hamstrung by the Establishment -- but people of character and commitment find ways to overcome that sort of thing. Trump was lazy and uncommitted -- quite satisfied to sling divisive rhetorical tweet-bombs, and completely unwilling to work hard to get working class people of color on his side. This played directly into the hands of the Establishment. God bless him if he does a better job this time around, but his acceptance speech last night did not change my mind in the slightest. He appears to have learned nothing.

Hope I'm wrong and Doctorow is right, but I won't be betting on it.

[evelyndominguez]

Vance is an opportunist. He hated Trump, now he supports Trump. What changed? The opportunity of power and wealth.

[IrinaFurman-zw]

OMG, I thought more of this man’s opinion, but… was I surprised… no. Another off my list.. mind boggling, you like someone because he made a “pretty speech “, seriously. What about his associates, people that he follow, believes that he adopted… common sense is dead and his analysis very good proof of it.

[bernhardm]

Thank you Nima for you and this YouTube channel. It is a breath of non-hysterical, calm, reasoned guided monologs of your wonderful array of guests. If I could ask of you: provide to your viewers some indication of date and perhaps local time of when the recording took place. Again, thank you and bless you.

[prematureoptimism]

Why is it that seemingly intelligent individuals always become so incredibly naive. 🤔

[efeocampo]

J.D. Vance position regarding US support for Ukraine, in his own words:
"I really don't care what happens to Ukraine one way or another, " Senator Vance has said.
New York Times, July 15, 2024
To better understand this message, it is necessary to read his 2016 book (his memoirs), "Hillbilly Elegy" brought to the screen in the film of the same name starring Glenn Close.
Hillbilly in Ohio means a common worker who earned a good salary in the 60s but as a result of the opening with China many factories were closed (now called "Rustbelt" or "rust belt of factories") lives in poverty and Vance, graduated Ph.D. Sum Cum Laude in Law at Yale (an exclusive US university, I understand that paid by the US Navy, after serving there for 2 years. He was in Iraq) he considers himself part of the hillbillys because he was born, grew up among them, shared his sufferings and does NOT consider himself one of the upper class of the USA even though he lives among them and has decided to help them in any way possible and therefore considers it stupid that the United States is sending hundreds of billions of dollars to Ukraine instead of investing them in its own people. Unfortunately, like Trump, they do support Israel.
Vance is Catholic

[vulcansaur]

Vance doesn't like wars that he does not like, others wars are OK for him, just listen to his stance on Gaza, China etc. His full support of the genocide happening right now in Gaza makes me think he is not really a Christian, but a good talker.

[annettajensen]

It's all a play and we're the audience

[mandolorian]

Vance is the right wing version of Barack Obama have a nice story with a memoir, one year as a junior Senator. Where have I seen this movie before. He’s on the ticket as he delivered Elon Musk and other PayPal mafia dollar support.

[Phuckitall]

Lost me at divine intervention. Judging by the comments, I didn't miss much.

[HansUtFryslan]

Wow, Nima! I'm following your interviews for various months now and I'm more and more impressed by your brilliant way of conducting your interviews: very relevant questions and razor sharp follow-up questions.
Hats off, my man! Keep it up!

[aliciaczechowski]

The one good thing about this interview is it inspired a lot of hilarious comments.

[jgarbo]

NIma understands this game better than the Dr....