- Noopolitik
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Noopolitik is a type of politik that differs from realpolitik. Although realpolitik is commonly equated with hard power, and seemingly noopolitik with soft power, both are broader in their embodiment of a form of organization. Specifically, realpolitik is not limited to hard power and coercion, but embodies a hierarchical form of organization. Likewise, noopolitik is not limited to reliance on knowledge and soft power, but embodies a networked form of organization. The idea was originally presented by American information warfare researchers John Arquilla and David Ronfeldt.
Tiziana Terranova (2007) describes the use of the term 'noopolitics' by Maurizio Lazzarato (2004). "'Noopolitics' supplements the biopolitics of the species described by Foucault" (Terranova 2007, 139). "Against the militarization of communication accomplished by new techniques of power, it is possible to think about the constitution of such publics as counter-weapons, which work by expressing, inventing and creating possible worlds where the moment of resistance (the 'no' by which one refuses to watch, listen or believe) is the starting point for an affirmative activity" (Terranova 2007, 140).
Contents
the Knowledge Economy and the BRICS
While the term initially appeared in association with the concept of the US Revolution in Military Affairs, Noopolitik has also come to describe an interest in the Knowledge Economy and in particular innovation and R&D to leverage growth and political reach in international relations. Thus Noopolitik may be defined as the use of innovation and knowledge to leverage political intercourses by other means at the international level. Such "knowledge race" may be either a means of asserting political independence or of generating a sudden gap in the geopolitical balance of power. The attitude of the People's Republic of China and the ANZUS in the Pacific Ocean has been described as such.
“ Therefore, comparable to the Heartland, the “Heartocean” inevitably disputed by powers of which none may prevail alone in the future without a decisive innovation will become the scene of a commensurate Great Game with the two same grand stakes. This will be the fate (or doom) of multilateralism on the one side and the global knowledge race on the other. (...). As stated by Seth Cropsey (2010) commenting on China’s noopolitik move of deploying new anti-ship missiles[1] in the ocean “keeping the Pacific pacific”[2]. The two issues are well summarized.[3] --- Idriss J. Aberkane March 2011 ” Noopolitik has thus been described as a defining stance of the People's Republic of China's economic policy[4]. Aberkane thus analyzes " Maintaining “Leap and Bound” creativity could be an efficient way for China to neutralize popular frustration. What must be acknowledged is that the PRC has moved from a “growth panacea” policy, to a policy of “knowledge panacea.” This best sums up its Noopolitik."
“ Emphasizing China’s deeply-rooted desire for technological independence, Segal[5] refers to the PRC’s efforts as an “Innovation Wall,” which is the willingness to innovate as independently as possible from the rest of the world to simply and systematically leap ahead of any other country. Needless to say, the scope of the rising fog of war in world economic and R&D competition is particularly daunting for the Euro-Atlantic community. The Chinese phrase for national innovation zizhu chuangxin was notably coined in a 2006 state report titled “Guidelines on National Medium- and Long-Term Program for Science and Technology Development.” If China decides to foster an innovation of its own, and the ideas were published in Mandarin language journals it would provide a barrier against other linguistic communities, and a thicker fog of war might rise in knowledge-based economic warfare -- Idriss J. Aberkane, 2011 ” see also Economics of the People's Republic of China : Noopolitik and the Knowledge Economy
See also
Sources
- John Arquilla & David Ronfeldt: "The Emergence of Noopolitik: Toward an American Information Strategy", Rand 1999
- Terranova, Tiziana . “Futurepublic: On Information Warfare, Bio-racism and Hegemony as Noopolitics.” Theory, Culture & Society 24.3 (2007): 125-145.
- Lazzarato, Maurizio (2004) La politica dell’evento. Cosenza: Rubbettino.
- ^ Fox News.com Aug. 6th 2010 Chinese 'Carrier-Killer' Missile Could Reshape Sea Combat [link | http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/06/chinese-carrier-killer-missile-game-changer-expert-says/]
- ^ Seth Cropsey Keeping the Pacific pacific. The looming U.S.-Chinese Naval rivalry. Foreign Affairs Sept. 27 2010.
- ^ Aberkane, I. J. Brzezinski on a US Berezina: anticipating a new, New World Order e-International Relations Mar 31st 2011
- ^ Aberkane, Idriss J. An Optimistic Memo on the Chinese Noopolitik: 2001-2011 e-International Relations jun. 14 2011
- ^ Segal, A. (2010) China’s Innovation Wall : Beijing’s Push for Homegrown technology. Foreign Affairs Sept 28 2010.
Additional Resources
- Mohammad Ganjidoost: "[1]," USC Center on Public Diplomacy, July 24, 2006.
- David Ronfeldt and John Arquilla: "The promise of Noöpolitik," First Monday, August, 2007
Categories:- International relations
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