U.S. foreign policy has long favored military intervention over the construction of strong international institutions capable of sustaining peace. The emergence of a transnational extreme-right movement in the mid-2010s has further undermined what remained of international institutions. Washington's institutional militarism reflects both the ideological commitments of policymakers and the corporate actors' impact on public policy. The revolving-door between the Pentagon and the defense industry stands out as perhaps the most visible example of corporate capture of policymaking.

Foreign policy decisions should reflect the interests of the American public and the moral imperative for peace-building. The ongoing capture of foreign policy by extreme-right ideologues has brought renewed attention to the dangers of militarism. This has forced many Americans to appreciate, among other things taken for granted, post-war systems of international alliances currently under strain. In recognizing this, it is important that this does not manifest as uncritical support for the foreign policy status quo ante. The foreign policy establishment, itself a contributor to decades of human rights abuse, should not be entrusted as the architect of what comes next.