By Christopher McCallion
As Republicans settle into a slim and fractured majority in the House, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), now including nearly half of all House Democrats, is reportedly preparing a policy agenda for the years ahead. Among the priorities of the CPC is the development of a new progressive foreign policy vision, which has often been regarded as a troublesome weakness for the left.
In particular, the war in Ukraine has exposed deep antinomies within the existing progressive approach to foreign policy. Despite usually being regarded as anti-interventionists, progressives have been hesitant to criticize the Biden administration's approach toward arming Ukraine while foregoing direct negotiations with Russia. In October, a now-infamous letter from CPC members calling for diplomacy with Russia was quickly retracted and ungraciously blamed on staffers. Furthermore, a number of prominent commentators have urged progressives to embrace the Ukraine war as a necessary defense of democratic values.
This piece was originally published in Newsweek on February 23, 2023. Read more HERE.