Still catching up on the backlog of podcasts. I listened to episode 34 of the Irregular Warfare podcast weeks ago – and jotted down a few notes. This episode was on “China’s Strategically Irregular Approach.”
Before I even listened to it, I opined that there would be a discussion or comment about how “good” China is at irregular warfare and how “bad” we are at it.
The discussion was more nuanced than that, thankfully. But there is one area in which I think we (the US) continue to get a bad rap.
And that’s on the topic of the “whole of society” approach.
In any discussion on China’s approach to competition, their ability to marshal their entire society in lockstep towards their political goals is touted as a huge advantage. A top-down approach, where the CCP dictates the direction, and often the pace and style.
To the outside observer, it can appear as if they’re “doing it well” or “doing it better.”
Wolf-warrior diplomacy, banning video games, social credit systems. It’s all in the name of winning.
And what do we have to counter that?
A system that appears (to outsiders and insiders) to be falling apart, constantly at odds with itself, and seemingly incapable of coming together for a common purpose.
If you believe the above and swallow it whole, you’re missing the bigger picture.
The USA already does the whole of society approach – and does it incredibly well.
Here, we trust our people with free speech, to make decisions in their best interests and pursue what makes them happy. This is mission command at a societal level.
We don’t need to tell our people that they need to go out there and counter adversarial aggression. Instead, we provide the space and the means for people and organizations to thrive.
And they create things. Entertainment. Sports. Fashion. Philanthropy. Finance.
Hollywood. College sports. Non-profits. The iPhone.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe – an American media franchise – is worth billions of dollars worldwide, but more importantly, carries the power of American culture, creativity, innovation, and humor across the world.
If you’re on the outside looking in, American society, with all its cracks and fissures, is a behemoth. It is worth envying.
We don’t need to try to recreate something that “gets everyone on board.” We don’t need to force it.
Do the right thing, speak the truth, and trust your people.
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