America Approaches the Crisis
By George Friedman - March 12, 2024
We have recently discussed China’s problems, Russia’s ability to defeat Ukraine, the economic condition of Europe and the wars of the Middle East. All of these are extremely important, but none are as crucial as the United States, the country with the largest economy in the world and a military that, if fully deployed, can be decisive.
Some of you may recall our model of cycles , which is now signaling increasingly intense political, social and economic problems that will last until the election of 2028, when a new president will be elected and, regardless of his wishes, will dramatically shift the country’s direction. A few months ago, I thought we would not have to wait until 2028, but that the 2024 election might signal the shift . That isn’t happening. Or, to be precise, the historical model of change every 50 years is continuing. The last transitional moment was the Reagan presidency, which started 43 years ago.
To understand the coming changes, it is useful to think of the last cycle in the 1970s. That decade was marked by a war with significant impact on the American economy, combined with an oil embargo. President Richard Nixon ended the link between the dollar and gold, and massive unemployment, dramatic inflation and staggeringly high interest rates ensued. Exports from Japan shocked domestic auto manufacturers. Anger at the Vietnam War led to social conflict in the United States, with racial conflict turning into riots in Detroit in the late 1960s, and in 1970, campus riots at Kent State turned deadly when students were shot by the National Guard. In the end, the president resigned to avoid impeachment and possibly prison.
The chaos grew through the 1970s, but it was the economic situation that drove it and in which the chaos was rooted, with the president trying to use the last cycle’s model to solve the problems. During the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt tried to increase taxes on the rich and corporations and attempted to funnel money to the poor. That, plus World War II and the jobs it created, ended the crisis. Continuing that model into the 1970s, however, created a new problem: a shortage of investment capital. The only solution was transformation, shifting the tax burden from the investing class to the middle and lower classes, which increased corporate sales and demand for workers. President Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party opposed this reversal of the Roosevelt model – which is normal for those linked to the last cycle – and in 1980 Ronald Reagan became president. Reagan pursued the only option: transforming the tax code. That worked well, but now that cycle is done. Nearly 50 years have passed, and a transition to a new model is inevitable.
Just as the economic crisis culminated in the latter half of the 1970s, along with all the other battles, the same thing is shaping up now in the 2020s and will become most intense by the elections of 2028.
The full order of battle is not yet clear, save for the economic crisis developing from the government creating excess money and the resulting inflation. As with Carter, however, it is not sustainable. Alongside this is the staggering amount of student debt, which flows into universities, allowing them to pursue projects that undermine their basic mission and maintain racial tension. The essential problem is again the relevance of the tax system in a shifting reality, but the system is merely the exterior of a much more complex reality.
Regardless of who is elected president, there will be rage and fear in the public, as there was in 1980 when voters elected an actor whose enemies believed he was an ignoramus. But in truth, the president presides; he does not rule. It is reality that forces action, and a new president will feel the pressure and respond. It is important not to focus on the president himself but on understanding the problem. As we look for leadership, neither candidate for the presidency will soothe the system. That must come later. I’ve spoken of this before, but we are now coming closer to the crisis.
About: George Friedman
George Friedman is an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster and strategist on international affairs and the founder and chairman of Geopolitical Futures.
Dr. Friedman is also a New York Times bestselling author. His most recent book, THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM: America’s Discord, the Coming Crisis of the 2020s, and the Triumph Beyond, published February 25, 2020 describes how “the United States periodically reaches a point of crisis in which it appears to be at war with itself, yet after an extended period it reinvents itself, in a form both faithful to its founding and radically different from what it had been.” The decade 2020-2030 is such a period which will bring dramatic upheaval and reshaping of American government, foreign policy, economics, and culture.??
His most popular book, The Next 100 Years, is kept alive by the prescience of its predictions. Other best-selling books include Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe, The Next Decade, America’s Secret War, The Future of War and The Intelligence Edge. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages.
Dr. Friedman has briefed numerous military and government organizations in the United States and overseas and appears regularly as an expert on international affairs, foreign policy and intelligence in major media. For almost 20 years before resigning in May 2015, Dr. Friedman was CEO and then chairman of Stratfor, a company he founded in 1996. Friedman received his bachelor’s degree from the City College of the City University of New York and holds a doctorate in government from Cornell University.
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Climate-smart agriculture: balancing food security with climate goals
It may surprise many that agriculture and its activities are, in fact, one of the leading causes of climate change. Agriculture is reported to be responsible for some of the highest emissions of greenhouse gases, making the sector one of the main contributors to global warming.
It strikes the environment with a double-edged sword, emitting greenhouse gases on one hand and destroying forests and marine ecosystems on the other.
According to the World Bank, agriculture is the primary cause of deforestation, threatening pristine ecosystems such as the Amazon and the Congo Basin. With the global population exploding, there is an inevitable need to increase food production, which can only be achieved by expanding agricultural activities.
This creates a vicious cycle, as warned by the World Bank: “Without action, emissions from food systems will rise even further, with increasing food production.”
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The need for increased food production is growing exponentially
Experts indicate that the global agrifood system emits one-third of all emissions, a figure bound to worsen as the need for increased food production grows exponentially.
The World Bank cautions that global food demand is estimated to increase to feed a projected global population of 9.7 billion people by 2050. However, traditional methods of increasing food production, such as agricultural expansion and unsustainable use of land and resources, are no longer sustainable.
Food systems are the leading source of methane emissions and biodiversity loss, using around 70 per cent of fresh water. To put it into perspective, if food waste were a country, it would be the third-highest emitter in the world.
The dilemma is apparent: we need to eat, but food production is destroying the planet. The million-dollar question is how do we increase food production and protect the environment simultaneously? This is where climate-smart agriculture comes in.
Climate-smart agriculture helps address climate change needs
Climate-smart agriculture, or sustainable food systems, is a holistic approach to addressing climate change and food insecurity. It focuses on agricultural practices and technologies that boost productivity, enhance resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It operates with agro-ecological conditions at its centre, encouraging the adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties, conservation agriculture techniques, agroforestry, precision farming, water management strategies, and improved livestock management.
By adopting climate-smart agriculture, we can feed the world, adapt to climate change, and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The World Bank has significantly scaled up its engagement and investment in climate-smart agriculture, increasing its financing to almost $3 billion annually.
As of July 2023, all new World Bank operations must be aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, making climate-smart agriculture a core focus.
Climate-smart agriculture projects in Africa
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Africa is an approach designed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to support food security under the new realities of climate change.
CSA aims to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, adapt and build resilience to climate change, and reduce or remove greenhouse gases where possible.
One notable example is the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project . WEMA was initiated to develop drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties to help farmers in several African countries combat the adverse effects of climate change and pests.
The project uses conventional breeding techniques and biotechnology to improve maize yields and food security without significantly increasing the need for water or other inputs.
This project represents an essential step in developing crop varieties that can withstand changing climate conditions, ensuring food security and livelihoods for millions of people.
In East Africa, the Climate-Smart Village (CSV) approach has been implemented by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). CSVs are sites where farmers, researchers, and local governments collaborate to test and demonstrate various climate-smart technologies and practices.
In Kenya and Tanzania, for example, CSVs have introduced drought-resistant crops, improved water harvesting and irrigation methods, and agroforestry. These practices enhance resilience to climate variability, improve soil health, and increase agricultural productivity, offering a holistic approach to tackling the challenges posed by climate change.
Projects help in sequestering carbon, mitigating climate change
Another innovative project is the Great Green Wall initiative , which stretches across the Sahel region from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east. Initiated in 2007 by the African Union, the strategy aims to rehabilitate 100 million hectares of deteriorated land, capture 250 million tonnes of carbon, and generate 10 million green jobs by 2030.
Although primarily aimed at combating desertification, the initiative incorporates climate-smart agricultural practices such as the restoration of degraded land, agroforestry, and sustainable land management.
These practices help sequester carbon, thus mitigating climate change, and provide food, jobs, and security to millions living in the Sahel region.
In Zimbabwe, the Pfumvudza/Intwasa program represents a climate-smart agriculture approach focusing on conservation farming techniques. The program aims to increase crop yields while enhancing resilience to climate variability by promoting minimum tillage, using cover crops, and proper water management.
Pfumvudza/Intwasa demonstrates how integrating traditional knowledge with modern agricultural practices can lead to sustainable food production systems.
These examples highlight the innovative and diverse approaches being taken across Africa to implement climate-smart agricultural projects. As these projects continue to expand and evolve, they offer valuable lessons and models for sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.
Last photo:In Zimbabwe, the Pfumvudza/Intwasa program represents a climate-smart agriculture approach focusing on conservation farming techniques. The program aims to increase crop yields while enhancing resilience to climate variability by promoting minimum tillage, using cover crops, and proper water management. (Source: Keeping You Posted)
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