“There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, and the United States of America.” Otto von Bismarck
The great German statesman and strategist was likely on to something when he made the remark above. God certainly has “shed his grace” on the 50 states over more than a life of 200 years. But there are times when having a bit of cunning and actually using it may prove to strengthen the grace we have received.
The Russian investigation may very well carry on beyond the upcoming mid-term elections. And while the continual focus on Russian influence drains internet networks and kills the trees upon which a shrinking press rely for their daily pulp, similar, perhaps more subtler forms of election and political influence are coming from other quarters like China.
The attempt by foreign governments to influence American politics is hardly new. Some of it is done through a variety of organizations like Alliance Français, the Goethe Institute, and the Japanese America Society. Promoting cultural understanding is benign, unless you suffer a hangover after enjoying one too many beers at an Oktoberfest celebration. Yet these organizations, and others also lobby U.S. legislators on crucial issues related to trade and votes are taken that may potentially harm U.S. interests. Is this form of lobbying interference? Yes.
But can such interference be stopped? Probably not, given everyone does it and will continue to do it. The U.S. does its share of lobbying through the Voice of America (VOA) and other cultural instruments of the American government which have been around at least since the start of the Cold War. And, the VOA continues to play a key role in the spread of democratic values and American ideals worldwide, to the extent that it can be heard.
Can such country influences be controlled or managed? Yes, but it will likely require many tools and techniques, first and foremost of which would be a strong background in civics taught from the earliest entry of American students into public education. Education on what and how the American government works as well as its general natural interests is probably a good start but not the only means to manage outside influences (I won’t go into all options here and given the magnitude of even this suggestion with the present environment so decidedly unclear just exactly what American interests are, I am not optimistic that this generational task will ever get underway in a manner in which the Boomers learned civics.).
The Russian attempt to influence or disrupt the 2016 elections has been recognized at least generally. It was done through a disinformation campaign using social media. To date, no one has proven that the Russians hacked into state electoral tally systems and altered votes, although there were some attempts. Such blunt force may be more easily recognized than a dead head on a pint at an Oktoberfest celebration, and could certainly alter an election outcome, so such must be fought aggressively and at every turn.
But blunt instruments are not always the most lethal. Remember this from childhood?
By the time you inserted your fingers and realized what you had done, you cannot break free. These Chinese finger traps are more than a metaphor of what has been going on for many years with respect to Chinese “soft power” techniques. While we obsess about the Russian influence, the Chinese are reshaping the way that they influence the world. With a diaspora of 60 million, including thousands of students studying in the U.S. (and paying those expensive international tuitions that keep the universities greedy for more), the Communist Party of China can reinforce its influence in won ton ways.
With 60 Million You Get Egg Roll
At the same time, recognizing the powerful influence of soft power, China has recently reworked its entire propaganda arm.
USA Voice of China article
Slowly, perhaps the U.S. government has awakened to the threat.
Panicked at being caught in the Chinese finger trap, I didn’t have the calm focus to look for effective solutions, i.e., to push into the trap to release the pressure and remove my fingers. Rather, I typically cut the thing in two with scissors, and then cut again to get the remnants off my fingers. At that point the trap was destroyed, no use to anyone.
A panicked response to something that has been building for decades will do more harm than good. The Chinese whittling away at the South China Sea to the point that they now virtually control it militarily is a perfect and unfortunate object lesson to bear in mind when considering counters to their soft power influence threat. But it is time to seriously consider how we can counter these influences so that we can maintain a clear-eyed view to protect U.S. interests and those of our allies. Such counters will require thoughtfulness and patience and time. Our providence may not hold out forever otherwise.
