u.s. faces unprecedented internal division while maintaining external dominance in trump 2.0 era. in 2025 the united states shows a level of polarization that undermines governance, yet its diplomatic and security operations continue to demonstrate power. the research by qian jing and wang haolan, translated from chinese, argues that the nation operates on two simultaneous logics: a republican system that relies on constitutional procedures and public legitimacy, and an imperial system that prioritizes military, economic, and strategic effectiveness. this duality explains how the country can still intervene decisively abroad-illustrated by the surprise army operation against venezuela in early 2026-despite chronic domestic gridlock. the analysis warns that the trumpt 2.0 era has weakened the coordination mechanism that historically kept the republic and empire aligned, potentially making future foreign successes harder to sustain.

Original article can be found here.