Global cynicism about democracy will expose media to attack

“China’s and Russia’s global influence operations won’t need to resort to fake news to exploit the genuine dysfunctions in the American system.”

Xi Jinping will stroll into the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th Congress to extend his decade-long tenure as leader of the world’s most populous country, to the uniform acclaim of its media. Meanwhile, the United States will show what Chinese citizens are missing. At its midterm elections, challengers will take on incumbents without fear, media will observe and opine without official hindrance, and voters will get to decide.

In a different era, that contrast would have been a globally impactful advertisement for liberal democracy over authoritarianism. In 2022, not necessarily.

True, most freedom-loving people in the world will shudder at the sight of China’s direction. After all, never has so much unaccountable power been bestowed by so many to so few. But the respect denied to China won’t automatically head America’s way. Not when the U.S. can’t seem to fix its own inexcusable flaws, like the systematic, scandalous campaign to disenfranchise Black citizens. China’s and Russia’s global influence operations won’t need to resort to fake news to exploit the genuine dysfunctions in the American system.

As mass cynicism and doubt about democracy grows, so will apathy, allowing autocrats the world over to continue lashing out with impunity at their critics. Independent journalists and other human rights defenders will have another troubled, thankless year.

Cherian George is a professor of media studies at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Xi Jinping will stroll into the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th Congress to extend his decade-long tenure as leader of the world’s most populous country, to the uniform acclaim of its media. Meanwhile, the United States will show what Chinese citizens are missing. At its midterm elections, challengers will take on incumbents without fear, media will observe and opine without official hindrance, and voters will get to decide.

In a different era, that contrast would have been a globally impactful advertisement for liberal democracy over authoritarianism. In 2022, not necessarily.

True, most freedom-loving people in the world will shudder at the sight of China’s direction. After all, never has so much unaccountable power been bestowed by so many to so few. But the respect denied to China won’t automatically head America’s way. Not when the U.S. can’t seem to fix its own inexcusable flaws, like the systematic, scandalous campaign to disenfranchise Black citizens. China’s and Russia’s global influence operations won’t need to resort to fake news to exploit the genuine dysfunctions in the American system.

As mass cynicism and doubt about democracy grows, so will apathy, allowing autocrats the world over to continue lashing out with impunity at their critics. Independent journalists and other human rights defenders will have another troubled, thankless year.

Cherian George is a professor of media studies at Hong Kong Baptist University.

David Cohn

Simon Galperin

Tony Baranowski

An Xiao Mina

Richard Tofel

Kristen Muller

Anthony Nadler

Ariel Zirulnick

Gonzalo del Peon

Jessica Clark

Michael W. Wagner

Melody Kramer

Moreno Cruz Osório

Mario García

Sam Guzik

Simon Allison

Cristina Tardáguila

Julia Munslow

A.J. Bauer

Zizi Papacharissi

S. Mitra Kalita

Larry Ryckman

Tamar Charney

Sarah Stonbely

Rachel Glickhouse

Laxmi Parthasarathy

Julia Angwin

Millie Tran

Matthew Pressman

Jesse Holcomb

Anita Varma

Jennifer Brandel

Jonas Kaiser

Matt DeRienzo

Andrew Freedman

Christina Shih

Mandy Jenkins

Raney Aronson-Rath

Chase Davis

Mary Walter-Brown

Kerri Hoffman

Daniel Eilemberg

Alice Antheaume

Burt Herman

David Skok

Tom Trewinnard

Jim Friedlich

Shannon McGregor & Carolyn Schmitt

Amara Aguilar

Don Day

Kathleen Searles & Rebekah Trumble

Wilson Liévano

Kendra Pierre-Louis

Nikki Usher

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen

Robert Hernandez

Shalabh Upadhyay

Izabella Kaminska

Stefanie Murray

Mike Rispoli

Eric Nuzum

Meena Thiruvengadam

Joe Amditis

Francesco Zaffarano

Parker Molloy

j. Siguru Wahutu

Jesenia De Moya Correa

Joni Deutsch

Ståle Grut

Chicas Poderosas

Catalina Albeanu

Cindy Royal

Jody Brannon

Paul Cheung

Whitney Phillips

Victor Pickard

Janelle Salanga

Natalia Viana

Brian Moritz

Gordon Crovitz

Christoph Mergerson

Kristen Jeffers

Gabe Schneider

Amy Schmitz Weiss

Joanne McNeil

Jennifer Coogan

James Green

Candace Amos

Stephen Fowler

Matt Karolian

Joshua P. Darr

Errin Haines

Megan McCarthy

Anika Anand

Joy Mayer

John Davidow

Doris Truong

Cherian George

Sarah Marshall

Juleyka Lantigua