Coxology
What the Dalai Lama Must Do
The Dalai Lama is a theocrat, with much the same claim to authority as any other ruler who asserts leadership through birth and/or presumed special connection to God. However, we in the West prefer him over other theocrats (Khomeini, for example, or even Pat Robertson) because he is absolutely unthreatening and, like us, he is preoccupied with self -development and all things New Age. He’s a lama the Liberals can live with.
Merry, mediagenic and marketing-savvy, his commercial profile (didn’t I just hear about a new range of Dalai Lama clothing?) has always been high. I have no objection to his commercial enterprises - writing best-sellers, appearances in advertisements, etc. In fact, I think they rather help his cause.
But now the moment of his lifetime has come. His people are being murdered in their hundreds, perhaps even thousands. His latest pronouncement - that he will resign if the violence continues - seems sadly irrelevant - and I’m sorry to say - almost cowardly in the face of the most appalling Chinese repression now taking place in his homeland.
Today, he condemned the burning of Chinese flags and attacks on Chinese property and called violence “suicidal” for the Tibetan cause. Why? His supporters need to burn flags - outside every Chinese embassy in the world.
I can certainly understand his desire to avoid further bloodshed. The Chinese are, I am certain, prepared to go to any brutal lengths to enforce their illegal occupation.
But now is the time - if ever it will come - to make a stand. Now is the time to call in the many favours he’s owed by fawning world leaders. After 35 years in relatively complacent exile, he must make his mark - now.
To do this, he must:
- Retain and listen to the advice of politically-astute advisers. There is currently no indication whatever that he has any.
- Get an amazing spokesperson to deal with the media (especially soundbites) on his behalf. Judged on tonight’s TV performance, the DL isn’t up to this job himself. He needs to admit this and rectify it- quickly. Call for Richard Gere - or any one of many other high-profile and media-friendly supporters. They exist - get ‘em now.
- Start calling his “friends” - those political leaders around the world who have always been happy to bask in some of the shared good karma. It’s past time for payback.
- Retain a killer PR consultancy. Most of the majors wouldn’t touch this account - alienating China is business suicide to them. But to a smaller, hungrier bunch of characters - it could be a career-defining account. Reach for the stars.
Will he do these things?
I’m not optimistic.
On this day…
No other post on this day.
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Not only will his threat to resign not move the Chinese, it may very well be greeted in Beijing with a collective, “I dare you.”
I agree completely with your recommendations. he is doing a marvelous job as a spiritual leader, but his skills as a statesman are clearly in doubt. If he wants to be treated as a statesman, he needs to act like one.
I fear he’s been seduced by the West. It’s one thing to have a photo opportunity with a president – he still wears the Rolex given to him by Roosevelt – but it’s altogether more difficult to leverage his profile in a realpolitik way. He’s sadly no politician –that’s not normally a criticism(!) – but in this case, it’s literally a fatal flaw, I’m afraid.
Normally, he’s got no way to leverage his profile in a realpolitik way.
There are two things that work to his benefit right now, however. First, with the West concerned about China’s sabre rattling over Taiwan’s elections this weekend, the West has every reason to beat China over the head with this, to, in short, keep the PRC looking west instead of east.
And, second, this summer’s Olympics provide additional leverage with respect to China’s human rights record. China is very sensitive to anything that might cause the Olympics to not play out flawlessly, as they consider it a national prestige issue. Were the Dalai Lama to call on nations to withdraw their teams and individual athletes to bow out (particularly if he could get some high-profile athletes to join the cause), Beijing would take notice….
“call on nations to withdraw their teams and individual athletes”… absolutely. He’s got a loaded gun there - but will he use it?