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China’s Gold Standard

I hope some savvy human rights group is readying a PR strategy for exacting maximum concessions from the Chinese government as the Olympics approach. The Games matter hugely to the Chinese government, which appears to see them as a great power coming-out party. So in the months that remain before the torch arrives, why not devise a human rights medal ...

By , a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.
608156_logo_beijing5.gif
608156_logo_beijing5.gif

I hope some savvy human rights group is readying a PR strategy for exacting maximum concessions from the Chinese government as the Olympics approach. The Games matter hugely to the Chinese government, which appears to see them as a great power coming-out party. So in the months that remain before the torch arrives, why not devise a human rights medal count? A silver medal could be awarded for springing New York Times researcher Zhao Yan. And perhaps a gold for stopping arms sales to Sudan's government? Groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have churned out plenty of statements urging reform before the Olympics, but something more catchy may be needed if the issue is to catch the public imagination.  

I hope some savvy human rights group is readying a PR strategy for exacting maximum concessions from the Chinese government as the Olympics approach. The Games matter hugely to the Chinese government, which appears to see them as a great power coming-out party. So in the months that remain before the torch arrives, why not devise a human rights medal count? A silver medal could be awarded for springing New York Times researcher Zhao Yan. And perhaps a gold for stopping arms sales to Sudan’s government? Groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have churned out plenty of statements urging reform before the Olympics, but something more catchy may be needed if the issue is to catch the public imagination.  

David Bosco is a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. He is the author of The Poseidon Project: The Struggle to Govern the World’s Oceans. Twitter: @multilateralist

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