Trump’s ‘America first’ and Xi Jinping’s ‘China first’: how different are they?
Patrick Mendis considers the points of agreement – and divergence – in the American and Chinese nation-building projects, particularly as both presidents today display an affinity with the more Hamiltonian ‘transactional’, rather than a ‘transformational’, approach to leadership

Since the two presidents have now met at Trump’s “Winter White House” in Florida, it is worth revisiting these two driving concepts as Beijing itself uses America’s Hamiltonian elements in its historic development to realise the China Dream.
As George Washington’s first secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton advocated a strong centralised government, supported a national banking system, developed a naval force to protect the nation and its external trade, and embraced manufacturing and commerce for the young nation’s development strategy. This world view was different from his arch-rival Thomas Jefferson, the secretary of state. Jefferson romanticised agrarian virtues, popularised democratic sentiments in religious freedom and human rights, and the ability of the people to govern themselves at the hamlet level.
Will dream shared by Xi Jinping and Donald Trump become a nightmare?
After Mao, Deng invoked Hamiltonian-like policies ... The question is: will China ever follow the American experience of Hamiltonian means to Jeffersonian ends?