John Austin
@jcaustin.bsky.social
Senior Fellow, Eisenhower Institute & Visiting Fellow Academy of International Affairs-NRW. Leading international work to strengthen economies, our alliances, our democracies, bringing new opportunity to neglected regions.
It seems like the world is reeling from threats to democracy, sovereignty & rule of law. Yet through the smoke & fire there are signs that decency & democracy are repelling the encroachment. Read my latest heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com/p/through-th...
Through the Din and Dim
Bright Lights Show the Path Forward
heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:51 PM
It seems like the world is reeling from threats to democracy, sovereignty & rule of law. Yet through the smoke & fire there are signs that decency & democracy are repelling the encroachment. Read my latest heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com/p/through-th...
As bad as the current Administration's civil rights abuses and assaults on democracy are, the achilles heel is the pocketbook issues like rising costs & fewer good-paying jobs, Read how policies like tariffs are hurting working people & Midwest businesses. www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
February 6, 2026 at 3:52 PM
As bad as the current Administration's civil rights abuses and assaults on democracy are, the achilles heel is the pocketbook issues like rising costs & fewer good-paying jobs, Read how policies like tariffs are hurting working people & Midwest businesses. www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
As young people go, so go our economy & society. Listen to the voices of young US & German Leaders around how to make communities across democracies places where young people thrive, flock to & don't run-away from. @dpzberlin.bsky.social heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com/p/young-lead...
Young Leaders Across Democracies
Stepping Up to Shape the Future
heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:49 PM
As young people go, so go our economy & society. Listen to the voices of young US & German Leaders around how to make communities across democracies places where young people thrive, flock to & don't run-away from. @dpzberlin.bsky.social heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com/p/young-lead...
Not only is current US regime's reliance on #tariffs likely illegal, but they damage the very people they are claimed to help, the hard-working men & women who make Michigan & industrial #Midwest #manufacturing go! Read my latest via @brookings.edu www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
February 3, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Not only is current US regime's reliance on #tariffs likely illegal, but they damage the very people they are claimed to help, the hard-working men & women who make Michigan & industrial #Midwest #manufacturing go! Read my latest via @brookings.edu www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Our terrific group of US & German Leaders organized by @dpzberlin.bsky.social just out with recommendations to bring hope &opportunity to people and places feeling neglected and ignored. Catch it all on our #Heartlands Transformation Substack. @aia-nrw.bsky.social substack.com/home/post/p-...
Young Leaders Across Democracies
Stepping Up to Shape the Future
substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Our terrific group of US & German Leaders organized by @dpzberlin.bsky.social just out with recommendations to bring hope &opportunity to people and places feeling neglected and ignored. Catch it all on our #Heartlands Transformation Substack. @aia-nrw.bsky.social substack.com/home/post/p-...
Tariffs sold to "bring back manufacturing" actually choke the industry here. Our manufacturing never left--it just got super high-tech, high value, and produces more product and wealth than ever before. Tariffs destroy jobs & businesses in Midwest. Read why:
www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
January 30, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Tariffs sold to "bring back manufacturing" actually choke the industry here. Our manufacturing never left--it just got super high-tech, high value, and produces more product and wealth than ever before. Tariffs destroy jobs & businesses in Midwest. Read why:
www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
There’s been much handwringing about “loss” of manufacturing. But in fact US mfg. is highly competitive & wildly productive. Current Prez's tariffs now putting America's manufacturing primacy at risk! Read my latest @brookings.edu, @gettysburg2024.bsky.social www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
January 29, 2026 at 2:56 PM
There’s been much handwringing about “loss” of manufacturing. But in fact US mfg. is highly competitive & wildly productive. Current Prez's tariffs now putting America's manufacturing primacy at risk! Read my latest @brookings.edu, @gettysburg2024.bsky.social www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Tariffs sold to boost jobs in America's #heartland are having opposite effect. Mfg. jobs shrunk 72,000 between April & December, 2025--including a loss of 2,500 mfg. jobs in my home state of #Michigan. My latest via @brookings.edu @gettysburg2024.bsky.social www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
January 28, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Tariffs sold to boost jobs in America's #heartland are having opposite effect. Mfg. jobs shrunk 72,000 between April & December, 2025--including a loss of 2,500 mfg. jobs in my home state of #Michigan. My latest via @brookings.edu @gettysburg2024.bsky.social www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Minnesota violence & threats to allies are distractions from domestic economic damage being done to #Midwest manufacturing businesses & workers by Administrations tariff regime. Read my latest from @brookings.edu www.brookings.edu/articles/not... #tariffs #manufacturing #trade #economy
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
January 27, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Minnesota violence & threats to allies are distractions from domestic economic damage being done to #Midwest manufacturing businesses & workers by Administrations tariff regime. Read my latest from @brookings.edu www.brookings.edu/articles/not... #tariffs #manufacturing #trade #economy
The current Administration's tariff chaos has hurt, not helped, Midwest manufacturing. Businesses in Michigan and the Midwest are losing customers, and working men and women are losing jobs. Read my latest from @brookings.edu @gettysburgcollege.bsky.social @aia-nrw.bsky.social
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
January 24, 2026 at 12:34 PM
The current Administration's tariff chaos has hurt, not helped, Midwest manufacturing. Businesses in Michigan and the Midwest are losing customers, and working men and women are losing jobs. Read my latest from @brookings.edu @gettysburgcollege.bsky.social @aia-nrw.bsky.social
Here in Midwest, we were promised a manufacturing renaissance. Actually our manufacturing base was already strong. Current tariff regime is costing us more business, more jobs, making life harder not easier. Read my latest via @brookings.edu www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
Not your grandfather’s factory: Why tariffs won’t help Midwest manufacturing | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
January 23, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Here in Midwest, we were promised a manufacturing renaissance. Actually our manufacturing base was already strong. Current tariff regime is costing us more business, more jobs, making life harder not easier. Read my latest via @brookings.edu www.brookings.edu/articles/not...
On behalf of colleagues in the #Heartlands Transformation Network (HTN) subscribe (for free) to our new Substack platform sharing practical insights around heartlands economic transformation across democracies! Go here to check it out! heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com
Heartlands Transformation Network | Substack
A newsletter for policymakers and community leaders about international efforts on both sides of the Atlantic to bridge geographic economic divides and reconnect residents of rural and former industri...
heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM
On behalf of colleagues in the #Heartlands Transformation Network (HTN) subscribe (for free) to our new Substack platform sharing practical insights around heartlands economic transformation across democracies! Go here to check it out! heartlandstransformationnetwork.substack.com
With so much feeling in the air of things being "torn down", it is inspiring to see communities across democracies, even those facing great economic and social challenges, build up! Read how communitiesbuild on arts, culture & heritage for renewal! online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
Building on Heritage and Culture
This ebook is created with Visual Paradigm Online, a flipbook maker to design ebooks online. Convert PDFs to ebook or design from scratch. No download, no waiting, no learning. Open and start now.
online.visual-paradigm.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
With so much feeling in the air of things being "torn down", it is inspiring to see communities across democracies, even those facing great economic and social challenges, build up! Read how communitiesbuild on arts, culture & heritage for renewal! online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
It is more than possible for advanced democracies like Canada, UK, Germany, France, & others across Europe & Asia to get way better at building their own high-tech economies --to end dependence on now unreliable US tech and its oligarchs. Read how: www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Innovation nation
Europe’s future growth and democratic stability depend on universities stepping up their innovation game
www.ips-journal.eu
December 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
It is more than possible for advanced democracies like Canada, UK, Germany, France, & others across Europe & Asia to get way better at building their own high-tech economies --to end dependence on now unreliable US tech and its oligarchs. Read how: www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Once vibrant industrial communities across democracies are challenged in making an economic transition Jobs & identity disappear leading to pain, sadness, & anger. All changes when communities build on unique industrial heritage and culture. Read how: online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
Building on Heritage and Culture
This ebook is created with Visual Paradigm Online, a flipbook maker to design ebooks online. Convert PDFs to ebook or design from scratch. No download, no waiting, no learning. Open and start now.
online.visual-paradigm.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Once vibrant industrial communities across democracies are challenged in making an economic transition Jobs & identity disappear leading to pain, sadness, & anger. All changes when communities build on unique industrial heritage and culture. Read how: online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
Many paths found by communities to overcome massive losses of traditional industry, to new economic prosperity & optimism among residents. No path is more potent than building on the communities unique history, culture and identity. See my new work: online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
Building on Heritage and Culture
This ebook is created with Visual Paradigm Online, a flipbook maker to design ebooks online. Convert PDFs to ebook or design from scratch. No download, no waiting, no learning. Open and start now.
online.visual-paradigm.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Many paths found by communities to overcome massive losses of traditional industry, to new economic prosperity & optimism among residents. No path is more potent than building on the communities unique history, culture and identity. See my new work: online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
See new #Heartlands Transformation Network report: leaders of community revitalization share experience building on arts, culture, history, & identity, to bring new hope, pride, optimism & economic activity to communities. @gettysburg2024.bsky.social online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
Building on Heritage and Culture
This ebook is created with Visual Paradigm Online, a flipbook maker to design ebooks online. Convert PDFs to ebook or design from scratch. No download, no waiting, no learning. Open and start now.
online.visual-paradigm.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:06 PM
See new #Heartlands Transformation Network report: leaders of community revitalization share experience building on arts, culture, history, & identity, to bring new hope, pride, optimism & economic activity to communities. @gettysburg2024.bsky.social online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/b...
Tragically US under the current Administration is walking away from global responsibilities-- like countering #Putin. Europe must lead in defending itself & Ukraine. Must build its own home-grown tech economy! Read how with @andywestwood.bsky.social www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Innovation nation
Europe’s future growth and democratic stability depend on universities stepping up their innovation game
www.ips-journal.eu
December 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Tragically US under the current Administration is walking away from global responsibilities-- like countering #Putin. Europe must lead in defending itself & Ukraine. Must build its own home-grown tech economy! Read how with @andywestwood.bsky.social www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Reposted by John Austin
A blog on innovation, universities and the regions that really, really need them. Written with my very good colleague @jcaustin.bsky.social and published by IPS (International Politics & Society) in Berlin.
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Innovation nation
Europe’s future growth and democratic stability depend on universities stepping up their innovation game
www.ips-journal.eu
November 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A blog on innovation, universities and the regions that really, really need them. Written with my very good colleague @jcaustin.bsky.social and published by IPS (International Politics & Society) in Berlin.
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
US has a robust University-linked innovation ecosystem-- kicks off game-changing technologies & helps us dominate high-tech. It is time for Canada, UK, and Europe to get good at the same thing. Here's how via @ipgbook.bsky.social . With @andywestwood.bsky.social www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Innovation nation
Europe’s future growth and democratic stability depend on universities stepping up their innovation game
www.ips-journal.eu
November 28, 2025 at 3:13 PM
US has a robust University-linked innovation ecosystem-- kicks off game-changing technologies & helps us dominate high-tech. It is time for Canada, UK, and Europe to get good at the same thing. Here's how via @ipgbook.bsky.social . With @andywestwood.bsky.social www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
University-linked innovation ecosystems kicking out fast-growth, high-tech businesses can be purposefully built. Urgent priority for UK & Europe to grow economies, and end reliance on US big tech! Read how to do it in my new article with @andywestwood.bsky.social www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
Hightech Heimat
Die Belebung alter Industrieregionen ist zentral zur Verteidigung der Demokratie. Was Europa von den USA lernen kann.
www.ipg-journal.de
November 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
University-linked innovation ecosystems kicking out fast-growth, high-tech businesses can be purposefully built. Urgent priority for UK & Europe to grow economies, and end reliance on US big tech! Read how to do it in my new article with @andywestwood.bsky.social www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
"It is imperative for democracies to build robust, innovation-driven economies & domestic high-tech industries, especially in those regions undergoing structural change that cannot achieve this on their own. " @andywestwood.bsky.social & I detail how to do this:
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
Hightech Heimat
Die Belebung alter Industrieregionen ist zentral zur Verteidigung der Demokratie. Was Europa von den USA lernen kann.
www.ipg-journal.de
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"It is imperative for democracies to build robust, innovation-driven economies & domestic high-tech industries, especially in those regions undergoing structural change that cannot achieve this on their own. " @andywestwood.bsky.social & I detail how to do this:
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
Democracies face 2 challenges:creating high-growth, high-tech economy & decrease reliance on US big tech; 2) close geographic economic divides that leave too many behind. Read how we do both, strengthen democracy! With @andywestwood.bsky.social via @internationalpoli.bsky.social lnkd.in/gcRcjnkZ
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
November 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Democracies face 2 challenges:creating high-growth, high-tech economy & decrease reliance on US big tech; 2) close geographic economic divides that leave too many behind. Read how we do both, strengthen democracy! With @andywestwood.bsky.social via @internationalpoli.bsky.social lnkd.in/gcRcjnkZ
Far and away the most constructive approach to grow jobs at home and among developing nations is not to retreat from the world, but help build a new "Global Opportunity Order", as I argued recently in @barrons.com Magazine. The US should lead (again!). www.barrons.com/articles/chi...
The Global Order That China Doesn’t Want Us to Build
The world has better alternatives to what Beijing is offering, John Austin writes in a guest commentary.
www.barrons.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Far and away the most constructive approach to grow jobs at home and among developing nations is not to retreat from the world, but help build a new "Global Opportunity Order", as I argued recently in @barrons.com Magazine. The US should lead (again!). www.barrons.com/articles/chi...
Read my latest in @barrons.com to see how rights and rules respecting countries can work together to maintain an international economic and political order that delivers freedom and opportunity for all! @gettysburg2024.bsky.social @aia-nrw.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/articles/chi...
www.barrons.com/articles/chi...
The Global Order That China Doesn’t Want Us to Build
The world has better alternatives to what Beijing is offering, John Austin writes in a guest commentary.
www.barrons.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Read my latest in @barrons.com to see how rights and rules respecting countries can work together to maintain an international economic and political order that delivers freedom and opportunity for all! @gettysburg2024.bsky.social @aia-nrw.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/articles/chi...
www.barrons.com/articles/chi...