Mearsheimer on why the US is in trouble

[phildwyer]

Making something that's popular =/= cultural imperialism.

Nothing just "is" popular. Culture always follows power.

 

[krtek a houby]

Nobody could do that. I will say however that the Chinese youth have gone mad for K-pop, much to the disapproval of their elders. It's a bit like what happened with American culture in post-war Europe.

Still doubling down. It's not the end of the world if you admit to being confused.

 

[Serge Forward]

You make my case for me. Compare the earnest, scholarly efforts of the Confucius Institute to the irresistible, raucous onslaught of Hollywood and Rock'n'Roll. In the race for cultural supremacy there can be only one victor.

Oh, did I?

 

[phildwyer]

Oh, did I?

Aye. If the Confucius Institute is the best they can do at cultural imperialism, they're bloody rubbish at it.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Confucius Institute - Wikipedia

I think all but five of these have closed in the US. My alma mater had one, but it shut down a couple of years ago. I think this was due to a law restricting US government funding to any university that hosts it. A flurry of closing followed.

Ihttps://www.npr.org/2019/07/17/741239298/as-scrutiny-of-china-grows-some-u-s-schools-drop-a-language-program

Besides academic freedom concerns, there's been accusations of spying and keeping track of Chinese students in the US.

 

[Serge Forward]

I think all but five of these have closed in the US. My alma mater had one, but it shut down a couple of years ago. I think this was due to a law restricting US government funding to any university that hosts it. A flurry of closing followed.

Ihttps://www.npr.org/2019/07/17/741239298/as-scrutiny-of-china-grows-some-u-s-schools-drop-a-language-program

Besides academic freedom concerns, there's been accusations of spying and keeping track of Chinese students in the US.

I don't know about spying, at least at governmental levels, but it does keep an eye on Chinese overseas students, ever vigilant of n'er-do-wells.

Eta. It's still a thing here in the UK, with partner institute status at quite a few universities. On the surface, it comes across a bit like the British Council and in this way plays a kind of soft power roll. It takes a dim view of negative utterances related to Uyghur, HK, Tibet or Xi as Winnie the Pooh. But then as universities benefit from shitloads of money from Chinese students, then it will continue to be supported by the universities.

 

[phildwyer]

I think all but five of these have closed in the US. My alma mater had one, but it shut down a couple of years ago. I think this was due to a law restricting US government funding to any university that hosts it. A flurry of closing followed.

Ihttps://www.npr.org/2019/07/17/741239298/as-scrutiny-of-china-grows-some-u-s-schools-drop-a-language-program

Besides academic freedom concerns, there's been accusations of spying and keeping track of Chinese students in the US.

It pains me to say so, but I think those accusations were basically correct. The spies were easily caught--one of them actually had an affair with a Congressman iirc. Another example of China's relative naivete in international relations.

 

[8ball]

Nothing just "is" popular. Culture always follows power.

This would be those silly 1960s books again…

 

[phildwyer]

This would be those silly 1960s books again…

Busted. I cannot deny it.

 

[Leighsw2]

What a nasty little creep you are. Thank you for crawling out of your sewer though—will add you to my ignore list.

Thank god for that!