MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 02, 2019 2:25 pm
Let's assume for a moment that our strategic objective is the prosperity of citizens of the United States over the long haul, rather than the more global objective of the prosperity of all mankind. Not that these necessarily have to be in conflict as it ain't actually a zero sum world, but let's just accept the notion that we're focused on US interests in particular.
Let's also assume that as long as we have nation states in which there are both positive and negative foreign actors impacting US long term prosperity, we indeed live in a 'competitive' world.
For those who are positive actors in this world, 'allies', we want to encourage their continued participation as such. For those who are 'negative', we want to minimize their impact and to encourage them to become more positive.
Always recognizing the potential for very deleterious impacts to occur because of what happens beyond our shores, from outright war to pollution to...ultimately impacts us here.
So, if we think about this 'competition' through a strategic lens, we look at the various realities of ourselves and our 'allies', and those of our 'competitors'; our strengths and weakness, and theirs.
We look to leverage and build upon our relative strengths, and we look to address our relative weaknesses.
So, what are our relative strengths and weaknesses when compared to China?
I'd suggest a few strengths:
1) Big head start on economic development, massive GDP.
2) Innovation economy, IP protection leads to individual incentive to create, innovation culture well established.
3) Political freedoms that support individual expression, and thus innovation culture.
4) Immigrant culture of aspiration, attracting talent and energy.
5) Natural allies in modern democracies, well developed economic partners.
A few of China's strengths:
1) Huge human capital scale and thus potential, multiples of 'smart' people relative to US.
2) System built with long-term perspective and rapid decision to execution due to centralized power.
3) Culture of community over individual, willingness to sacrifice for community.
4) Brand new, state of the art infrastructure and other long-term oriented commitments.
5) Very high business process innovation; make it cheaper, faster
Some of our weaknesses:
1) Short term perspective, both political and business decisions rewarded based on short term outcomes.
2) Outdated infrastructure; Decision to execution on major changes in infrastructure, human capital, etc tend to be very slow, with political factors, voices to be heard, etc.
3) Political 'openness', eg freedoms of speech, provide vulnerabilities to be exploited by malign actors.
4) Diversity, while also a strength, can lead to 'us' vs "them" conflicts, reducing commitments to community.
Some of China's weaknesses:
1) Much less developed market based signals for economy, much lower per capita GDP, standard of living.
2) Low creativity in basic research due to low IP protection
3) Risks of citizens demanding more 'voice' if standards of living don't rise quickly enough to match world developed standards.
4) Few 'natural allies', external relationships primarily transactional.
Thoughts? Additions? Edits?
What are the implications?