For decades, allies of the United States lived comfortably amid the sprawl of American hegemony. Back in 2022, Cory Doctorow coined the term “enshittification” to describe a cycle that has played out again and again in the online economy. When American allies buy advanced military technologies such as F-35 fighter jets, they’re getting not just a plane but the associated suite of communications technologies, parts supply, and technological support. As Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, recently put it, “The United States is beginning to monetize its hegemony.”So what is an ally to do? Back in 2020, the United States imposed sanctions on Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, for repressing democracy protests on China’s behalf.