The Wondering Mind

In case anyone was still under the delusion of China having been transformed into a modern paradise of freedom and democracy by that august and incorruptible body known as the International Olympic Committee, we have this announcement (more like a threat actually) from China.

What’s note-worthy about it is not the oppressive propaganda the Chinese authorities are spouting, but the crude nature of the propaganda. It’s so patently absurd that no one would take it for anything other than a crude attempt at coercion and intimidation, and also a load of rubbish.

As the recent conflict in Georgia demonstrated, a country can ride rough shod over international opinion and consensus if they are rich and powerful enough, even if they are not the United States. But there are limits even to the power of riches, as the Russians found out.

The Chinese may be encouraged by the sort of shenanigans going on in the American elections, where mud-slinging with half-truths and outright lies actually seems to work. But those tactics rarely convert people to your argument, only succeeding in reinforcing existing biases, especially when it comes from a less than reputable source. Sure, it fires up the faithful, but that’s hardly necessary in an authoritarian country.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I just find it surprising that a country that has come so far economically has not learned more sophistication in its international propaganda efforts.