Dear Editor,

In his influential book The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene warns that isolation is a dangerous illusion, a delusion that has led many great empires to ruin. History shows that closing oneself off from the world rarely ends well, and Greene’s warning feels increasingly relevant today.

Since his second inauguration, US President Donald Trump has taken bold steps to reshape America’s role on the world stage. From imposing steep tariffs to restructuring federal agencies and withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) this year, these actions have been positioned as nationalist efforts to reignite the American economy and restore the nation’s pride. Trump appears determined to make his second term count, making big, often controversial, moves to cement his legacy.

But there is growing concern about the belief that the US can thrive in complete isolation, cutting itself off from global markets and relying solely on domestic strength. Economist ML Weidenbaum, in his article ‘American Isolationism versus the Global Economy’, once described this as a paradox. Trying to embrace economic isolationism while still participating in global markets simply doesn’t work in the long run. Much like the saying, “No man is an island,” nations are too dependent on one another in an increasingly connected world.

Historically, America’s economic strength has come not only from policy or industry, but from the timeless contributions of immigrants and expatriates who come seeking better opportunities. The brain drain phenomenon — whereby talent leaves one country in search of another — has long worked in the US’s favour for centuries. But now, that dynamic is quickly shifting due to deterring policies. With rising uncertainty, many international students are turning away from the US, once considered the gold standard in higher education.

Federal agencies and even elite universities are now facing the threat of budget cuts and potential closures due to chronic underfunding. This has left many students studying abroad worried about losing their place in competitive programmes. The Brookings Institution warns that the US could lose up to one million international students due to recent policy changes — a major blow, not only to the academic world but to the economy at large, given the financial and intellectual contributions these students bring.

Many establishments, especially farms and construction agencies, face a labour shortage and the ripple effects are endangering the productivity of the nation. If the backbone industries of the US economy can’t find the workers they need, how long before the cracks spread wider? Who will build, plant, harvest, and maintain the very infrastructure that keeps the country running?

The United States now stands at a crossroads. It must choose between continuing to lead through openness and engagement or risk dimming its own future by turning inward. History, after all, has little patience for those who ignore its lessons.

Dujean Edwards

Lecturer

dujeanedwards@gmail.com