Robert Wright's Nonzero Iran and the Demise of US Hegemony (Robert Wright, Derek Davison, and Daniel Bessner)
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Apr 16, 2026 
Daniel Bessner, political scientist focused on U.S. grand strategy; Derek Davison, Middle East analyst and commentator. They dissect Iran’s maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz and the evolving nuclear negotiation posture. They debate whether U.S. actions reflect global hegemony or domestic/Israel-linked politics. They also examine drone warfare, China’s role, and limits of presidential emergency powers.
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Trump's Iran Policy Driven By Chaos Not Strategy
- Trump’s Iran moves look chaotic and appear driven more by short-term market manipulation and narcissism than coherent geostrategy.
- Derek Davison notes initiatives appear promising early in the week then escalate to threats by week's end, reflecting improvisation not planning.
American Hegemony Model Is Becoming Unsustainable
- The American century and its maximalist hegemony are unraveling, requiring rethinking of progressive-era assumptions about sustained global control.
- Daniel Bessner points to scholarship like Andrew Presson's Total Defense showing how total-security visions emerged in the 1930s.
Israel And Domestic Politics Drive US Middle East Policy
- U.S. involvement in the Middle East is shaped by multiple forces, including Israel's influence and long-standing strategic objectives, not just immediate national-security threats.
- Robert Wright and Daniel Bessner argue Iran isn't a direct U.S. threat; domestic politics and Israel relations heavily drive U.S. policy.
