The defeat of election interference?
The defeat of election interference?
Do the results of the Taiwan and Bangladesh elections signal hope? Not so fast.
Election interference is not new. But there has been a change in the mechanics.
Two recent elections were hotbeds for election interference.
The Chinese Communist Party wanted the Taiwanese DPP out of power. The odds favoured it. Since 1996, no party has won their third consecutive election. But it happened. The people of Taiwan voted against the Chinese-supported opposition. If you note how much China interferes in various countries worldwide, you will realize how much pressure was bearing on the Taiwanese election system.
Similarly, Bangladesh successfully thwarted a China and US regime change election interference against the pro-development, China-inclined, less radical Awami League Party. Unfortunately for India, the US and China are competing to curry favour with the radical Islamist elements in control of Bangladesh to thwart each others’ influence. China has a little influence over the Awami League (the party in power) and a little more over radical Islamist parties. The US sent its two trusted regime change generals - Victoria Nuland and Donald Lu, to create a dalliance with the radical Islamist elements. (Why, US why!!) The US cavalry, in terms of lack of “free and fair” elections, “human rights violation”, etc., was there as well. The geopolitical game resulted in all opposition parties boycotting the elections. Finally, saner voices prevailed, possibly some Indian influence was responsible, and free and fair elections happened, and the Awami League held on to power.
[Note: Bangladesh borders India on three sides, including a geographically sensitive part of India called “chicken neck. Bangladesh has a small strip connecting it with Myanmar, and the fourth side is open to the sea overlooking Indian naval bases and access points. India, therefore, has deep interests in Bangladesh ever since its founding.]
So, is the era of election interference over?
Not at all. I suspect the regime change effort was spread out in 2024 because of a confluence of critical elections coming up in 2024. The US is going for elections, but so are Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia and Iran. While the Bangladesh and Taiwan elections are complete, the rest are still in play. So, the regime-change actors and election influencers (tech and non-tech) are extremely busy. Their weapons, misinformation, rumours, character assassinations and suppression of truth.
What can we do?
As informed observers, we should pause a bit before we say anything. When we hear some news we have to do our own digging and sourcing. Keep an open mind. Comfort and diffuse the tensions and emotions. We should do what we must always do - be thoughtful in our decisions and deliberate in our actions. Welcome to 2024.