Matt, Great topic to ponder. Look at the results of Mohamed Bouazizi (the Tunisian street vendor) whose self-immolation triggered the Arab Spring. I doubt his action was based on a carefully thought out strategy, rather a sudden emotional form of protest. Here countries fell to the Arab Spring because all-in-all they were weak countries/governments that couldn't protect themselves from the threats he gave rise to. I can easily see where countries like these could be susceptible to such a strategy. They could not take on the overwhelming pressure of their own population, much less the immense international pressure that would come along with it. Which brings me to China and Tibet. I don't see the strategy as an effective one because it is failing to stir the Chinese population to retaliate against the CCP and its certainly not having much effect stirring the conscience of the international community. Pretty much the same can be said about the plight of the Uighurs. Why? My thoughts are:
1. Most Chinese don't care
2. The CCP doesn't care
3. The CCP would be merciless against the Tibetans and Uighurs if they fought back
4. And finally, I don't believe China cares what the international community thinks about how they deal with their domestic issues. That is one of their big selling points in their international strategy: "We are not critical of you and your domestic policies, don't be critical of us and ours". They also have quite a bit of economic power to wield is influencing foreign entities. Look what happens to our own domestics organizations that speak badly of China and its policies. They get sanctioned and either apologize or suffer the consequences. It is scary to have a country so large and powerful as to get away with what they're doing to such a large part of their population and seemingly getting away with.
Matt, Great topic to ponder. Look at the results of Mohamed Bouazizi (the Tunisian street vendor) whose self-immolation triggered the Arab Spring. I doubt his action was based on a carefully thought out strategy, rather a sudden emotional form of protest. Here countries fell to the Arab Spring because all-in-all they were weak countries/governments that couldn't protect themselves from the threats he gave rise to. I can easily see where countries like these could be susceptible to such a strategy. They could not take on the overwhelming pressure of their own population, much less the immense international pressure that would come along with it. Which brings me to China and Tibet. I don't see the strategy as an effective one because it is failing to stir the Chinese population to retaliate against the CCP and its certainly not having much effect stirring the conscience of the international community. Pretty much the same can be said about the plight of the Uighurs. Why? My thoughts are:
1. Most Chinese don't care
2. The CCP doesn't care
3. The CCP would be merciless against the Tibetans and Uighurs if they fought back
4. And finally, I don't believe China cares what the international community thinks about how they deal with their domestic issues. That is one of their big selling points in their international strategy: "We are not critical of you and your domestic policies, don't be critical of us and ours". They also have quite a bit of economic power to wield is influencing foreign entities. Look what happens to our own domestics organizations that speak badly of China and its policies. They get sanctioned and either apologize or suffer the consequences. It is scary to have a country so large and powerful as to get away with what they're doing to such a large part of their population and seemingly getting away with.