Usually I write about nationalism when discussing trade policy (and protectionism). Suffice it to say that I do not approve of knee-jerk patriotic crap, and like other Americans, I have had to put up with a lot of it from my fellow countrymen since 9/11. There is quite a bit of it here in China as well, of course, and in some ways, Beijing relies more on nationalist sentiment than does the U.S. government. Nationalism has always influenced FDI over here, and hints of policy changes in the areas of IP and M&A are making a lot of folks nervous.
The latest example of mindless nationalism comes from the U.S. presidential campaign, specifically a meaningless issue about patriotic symbolism (h/t Crooks & Liars):
[I]n response to a question from a reporter suspicious of why he wasn’t wearing an American flag pin on his lapel, Barack Obama explained his belief that for some, the pins became a substitute for “true patriotism.” The senator said he would instead “try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”
The American flag lapel pin thing is incredibly annoying, and kudos to Obama for taking a stand on this issue. When I write about international investment, I usually discuss the merits of particular cases, such as CNOOC/Unocal or Huawei/3Com). However, it is helpful to understand the overall nationalistic context within which some of these decisions are made, and as we look forward to a lot of jingoistic rhetoric over the 3Com deal, I'm going to remember this flag lapel pin story.
To make matters worse, free trade is getting a real beating in the U.S. as nationalism surges. The U.S. Republican Party seems to have a knack these days for choosing the wrong side of every issue, so this should not come as a surprise (h/t Global Economic Analysis):
By a nearly two-to-one margin, Republican voters believe free trade is bad for the U.S. economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views and suggests trade deals could face high hurdles under a new president.
The sign of broadening resistance to globalization came in a new Wall Street Journal-NBC News Poll that showed a fraying of Republican Party orthodoxy on the economy.
Six in 10 Republicans in the poll agreed with a statement that free trade has been bad for the U.S. and said they would agree with a Republican candidate who favored tougher regulations to limit foreign imports.
Looking for a silver lining in this cloud, I should note that the next few years should provide lots of stupid protectionist policies and rhetoric regarding U.S.-China bilateral trade – perfect for blogging.
Back to the lapel pin, and just for fun, enjoy this excerpt from Seinfeld (h/t The Carpetbagger Report), the episode where Kramer refuses to wear an AIDS ribbon:
ORGANIZER: But you have to wear an AIDS ribbon.
KRAMER: I have to?
ORGANIZER: Yes.
KRAMER: See, that’s why I don’t want to.
ORGANIZER: But everyone wears the ribbon. You must wear the ribbon!
KRAMER: You know what you are? You’re a ribbon bully.
ORGANIZER: Hey you! Come back here! Come back here and put this on!
New scene – Kramer in the AIDS walk. Some AIDS activists accost him for failing to wear the red ribbon.
WALKER #1: Hey, where’s your ribbon?
KRAMER: Oh, I don’t wear the ribbon.
WALKER #2: Oh, you don’t wear the ribbon? Aren’t you against AIDS?
KRAMER: Yeah, I’m against AIDS. I mean, I’m walking, aren’t I? I just don’t wear the ribbon.
WALKER #3: Who do you think you are?
WALKER #1: Put the ribbon on!
WALKER #2: Hey, Cedric! Bob! This guy won’t wear a ribbon!
BOB: Who? Who does not want to wear the ribbon?
New scene – Kramer surrounded by Cedric, Bob, and the other walkers.
BOB: So! What’s it going to be? Are you going to wear the ribbon?
KRAMER (nervously): No! Never.
BOB: But I am wearing the ribbon. He is wearing the ribbon. We are all wearing the ribbon! So why aren’t you going to wear the ribbon!?
KRAMER: This is America! I don’t have to wear anything I don’t want to wear!
CEDRIC: What are we gonna do with him?
BOB: I guess we are just going to have to teach him to wear the ribbon!