China: Authoritarianism Unites, Democracy Divides
The recent summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the city of Tianjin and the subsequent impressive military parade in Bejing’s Tiananmen Square — marking the end of World War II — were a clear demonstration of China's political and military power, the level it has reached as it endeavors to become the world's hegemon and its ability to attract and establish strong alliances with Eurasian countries. Two figures stood out in the military parade: Vladimir Putin and the less presentable despot of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un. This is a clear sign that when China talks about “peace,” it is important to thoroughly understand the terms under which tranquility is maintained.
Xi Jinping has sent a clear message to the United States, the European Union and the West in general: “We are promoting a new international order and preparing to assume global leadership.” To this end, he has the support of Russia, India and the other member countries of the SCO as full members, observers or dialogue partners. The terms for participation are flexible.
Most of the participating countries are governed by authoritarian regimes, although this is not a requirement for joining the alliance. India — a country that continues to be considered democratic, despite Narendra Modi's efforts to stifle democracy —is part of the alliance. The vast majority of China's other partners in this forum are dictatorships or autocracies of varying degrees, from Belarus and Myanmar — both tyrannies — to Turkey, a competitive autocracy. Elections are held there in which the opposition participates, albeit muzzled. In the vast majority of SCO nations, democratic values and practices are banished. Human rights, changes in government leadership and freedom of information and expression are part of the “decadent” customs of the West.
The Global South, as some members of the SCO like to be identified, constitutes a large segment. It represents more than 40% of the world's population and generates a large part of the world's wealth, producing more than 25% of the planet's gross domestic product. Despite its heterogeneity, under China's leadership, this diverse group has managed to find areas of consensus and establish agreements that allow them to support each other. Today, they are a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
On the other side of the equation is the democratic pole: the U.S., Canada, the European Union, U.K., Japan and Australia. Mexico and Brazil, the two largest economies in Latin America, could also be included, as well as smaller nations. Due to the misguided policies implemented by Donald Trump since his arrival in the White House, this large segment of the planet, united by economic interests and democratic values associated with freedom in every sense, has been subjected to severe and continuous attacks from Washington. Trump has weaponized the trade war to impose tariff restrictions on his traditional trading partners. From his initial threats, he has moved to a policy of brute force. Unlike China, he has demonstrated — through his frenetic actions — a failure to understand that the U.S. occupies a strategic cultural, political and ideological position on the globe.
Since becoming president, Trump has dedicated himself to weakening democratic countries. He began by threatening to withdraw from NATO and then proceeded to deny financial and logistical aid to Ukraine. He almost completely shut down USAID, the world's most important international cooperation agency, funded by the U.S. With this absurd measure, he ended the vital aid given to the poorest nations by the U.S. for education, public health, sanitation and scientific research for issues relevant to the most vulnerable populations.
He has engaged in excessive and arbitrary acts that have weakened the role of the U.S. as a global leader of democracy, a role it has been called upon to play.
Now the EU, U.K., Canada and other countries that have traditionally defended freedom will have to regroup and strengthen themselves to continue maintaining their political models to prevent the alliance between China and Russia from overwhelming them in the future. This work of preservation and defense would be much more effective if it had Trump's decisive support. However, everything indicates that the U.S. president is much more concerned with punishing humble workers who flee poverty by entering the U.S. illegally than with fulfilling his fundamental responsibility.
Trump's reckless strategy is allowing China to lead a new world order in which authoritarianism unites and strengthens, while democracy divides and weakens. This is one of the ironies of our time.
Xi Jinping has sent a clear message to the United States, the European Union and the West in general: “We are promoting a new international order and preparing to assume global leadership.” To this end, he has the support of Russia, India and the other member countries of the SCO as full members, observers or dialogue partners. The terms for participation are flexible.
Most of the participating countries are governed by authoritarian regimes, although this is not a requirement for joining the alliance. India — a country that continues to be considered democratic, despite Narendra Modi's efforts to stifle democracy —is part of the alliance. The vast majority of China's other partners in this forum are dictatorships or autocracies of varying degrees, from Belarus and Myanmar — both tyrannies — to Turkey, a competitive autocracy. Elections are held there in which the opposition participates, albeit muzzled. In the vast majority of SCO nations, democratic values and practices are banished. Human rights, changes in government leadership and freedom of information and expression are part of the “decadent” customs of the West.
The Global South, as some members of the SCO like to be identified, constitutes a large segment. It represents more than 40% of the world's population and generates a large part of the world's wealth, producing more than 25% of the planet's gross domestic product. Despite its heterogeneity, under China's leadership, this diverse group has managed to find areas of consensus and establish agreements that allow them to support each other. Today, they are a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
On the other side of the equation is the democratic pole: the U.S., Canada, the European Union, U.K., Japan and Australia. Mexico and Brazil, the two largest economies in Latin America, could also be included, as well as smaller nations. Due to the misguided policies implemented by Donald Trump since his arrival in the White House, this large segment of the planet, united by economic interests and democratic values associated with freedom in every sense, has been subjected to severe and continuous attacks from Washington. Trump has weaponized the trade war to impose tariff restrictions on his traditional trading partners. From his initial threats, he has moved to a policy of brute force. Unlike China, he has demonstrated — through his frenetic actions — a failure to understand that the U.S. occupies a strategic cultural, political and ideological position on the globe.
Since becoming president, Trump has dedicated himself to weakening democratic countries. He began by threatening to withdraw from NATO and then proceeded to deny financial and logistical aid to Ukraine. He almost completely shut down USAID, the world's most important international cooperation agency, funded by the U.S. With this absurd measure, he ended the vital aid given to the poorest nations by the U.S. for education, public health, sanitation and scientific research for issues relevant to the most vulnerable populations.
He has engaged in excessive and arbitrary acts that have weakened the role of the U.S. as a global leader of democracy, a role it has been called upon to play.
Now the EU, U.K., Canada and other countries that have traditionally defended freedom will have to regroup and strengthen themselves to continue maintaining their political models to prevent the alliance between China and Russia from overwhelming them in the future. This work of preservation and defense would be much more effective if it had Trump's decisive support. However, everything indicates that the U.S. president is much more concerned with punishing humble workers who flee poverty by entering the U.S. illegally than with fulfilling his fundamental responsibility.
Trump's reckless strategy is allowing China to lead a new world order in which authoritarianism unites and strengthens, while democracy divides and weakens. This is one of the ironies of our time.
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