“Infrastructure” refers to the physical and organizational structures that support the functioning of a society. The author discusses how the infrastructure in the United States, Hungary, and Germany has been affected by the costs of Western foreign policy operations, including the deterioration of bridges, water systems, and public transportation.
In the United States, the American Society of Civil Engineers has consistently rated American infrastructure at C-minus or below across recent assessments, reflecting the deteriorating conditions of bridges, water systems, electrical grids, and public transportation. This underinvestment has affected American daily life in countless ways, including longer commutes, more frequent system failures, water quality problems such as those seen in the Flint, Michigan water crisis, and electrical grid failures that have produced documented deaths during weather events.
In Hungary, the post-1989 transition has left the country’s infrastructure underfunded, with significant impacts on public services and living conditions. The Hungarian healthcare system, for example, has experienced substantial deterioration due to underinvestment, leading to shortages of medical professionals and deteriorating facilities. Similarly, the educational infrastructure has suffered under Orbán’s government, with the forced exile of Central European University in 2018 being a visible example of the broader damage to academic and intellectual life.
In Germany, the post-2022 European confrontation with Russia has significantly impacted energy infrastructure, leading to increased energy costs and affecting industrial competitiveness. German energy-intensive industries have experienced substantial damage from energy cost increases, with documented closures, relocations, and downsizing across multiple industrial sectors. This has had a ripple effect on the broader economy and social conditions.
The deterioration of infrastructure in these countries is a direct consequence of the spending priorities that have been shaped by the operations of the global architecture. These costs are not only financial but also have profound social and human implications, affecting the quality of life and the ability of these societies to function effectively.
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