October 13, 2020
Uniting the Techno-Democracies
How to Build Digital Cooperation
At the outset of the digital age, democracies seemed ascendant. The United States and like-minded countries were at the cutting edge of technological development. Policymakers were pointing to the inherently liberalizing effect of the Internet, which seemed a threat to dictators everywhere. The United States’ technological advantage made its military more potent, its economy more prosperous, and its democracy, at least in theory, more vibrant.
The world’s advanced democracies have something the autocracies don’t: a long history of multilateral cooperation for the benefit of all.
Since then, autocratic states have caught up. China is at the forefront, no longer a mere rising power in technology and now an American peer. In multiple areas—including facial and voice recognition, 5G technology, digital payments, quantum communications, and the commercial drone market—it has surpassed the United States. Leaders in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, and elsewhere are increasingly using technology for illiberal ends, following China’s example. And despite the United States’ remaining advantage in some technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor production, it has fallen behind China in formulating an overall strategy for their use.
Read the full article in Foreign Affairs.
More from CNAS
-
Sharper: Indo-Pacific Partnerships & Allies
Commentary
Through the Quad and the newly minted, yet controversial, AUKUS agreement, Washington is increasing its focus and resources on the Indo-Pacific region. The White House is also...
By Anna Pederson
-
Unite technodemocracies
Commentary
Technology has become a central element in today's geopolitical competition. Yet there is still no coordination forum among the world's technodemocracies....
By Richard Fontaine & Jared Cohen
-
A Techno-Diplomacy Strategy for Telecommunications in the Indo-Pacific
Commentary
There is growing recognition that a multilateral approach is required to deal with the challenges stemming from China’s growing digital influence....
By Lisa Curtis & Martijn Rasser
-
Democracy’s Digital Defenses
Commentary
In early 2021, the audio-only social media app Clubhouse allowed users in mainland China to enter chat rooms and talk freely to the world—including American journalists and pe...
By Richard Fontaine & Kara Frederick
