Amid the violence of Tibet, a debate has emerged in the west: Should we boycott the Beijing Olympic Games? Tibet has brought into focus an issue people have been discussing since Darfur and now serious discussion is occurring among people, organizations, and governments. Many activist groups are using this opportunity to shine a light on China’s horrible record on human rights, Tibet, and China’s relationship with Sudan.

Protesters in Paris disrupted the torch rely forcing officials to distinguish the torch 5 times. Similar incidents happened when they lit the Olympic torch in Greece and London. There is talk in the United States of boycotting the opening ceremonies, Germany is talking about boycotting the whole event, and many groups are calling for the general populace and for athletes to boycott the event altogether.

All of this is designed to “shame” China on their human rights record and thereby causing enough embarrassment that China will be forced to change their ways in order to seem credible on the world stage. Will this be successful? Should we politicize this sporting event? Will we really push China in a new direction?
The answer, I believe, is a resounding NO. While China needs to improve its human rights, pushing them and boycotting the Olympics will not get them to do so. Those that believe it will have a lack of understanding about Chinese psychology and history.

China strongly maintains a policy of staying out of people’s affairs. They believe its no one’s place to tell them how to live their life and thereby take great offense when people tell them what to do. To them, their sense of nationalist pride is at stake and they won’t be seen as bowing to foreign pressure. Over the years, the Chinese government has stoked nationalism as a way to legitimatize itself amid a diminishing communist system. That is why in recent years there have been severe boycotts and protests in response to what the Chinese people see as foreign pressure. To them, the Olympics are a matter of honor. It is a sign of national pride and view western calls for a boycott as just another example of Western interference in China.

Chinese history is filled with incidents in which the West has subjugated China and the Chinese still harbor a lot of resentment about their past with the West. Issues like Tibet and Taiwan are seen through the prism of historical events like the Opium Wars and partitioning off of places like Hong Kong and Macau. Any talk of what “China must do” is only increases their resistance and hardens their position. Chinese youth have been educated in this system and, watching the news, one can see that they are behind a lot of the boycotts and furor. The Chinese government has raised a generation on nationalism and to them, this is just another example of Western interference and hypocrisy.

All the boycotts and protests in the world won’t change China’s position. China entered the world through engagement in the 1970s and will only change through further engagement. The best thing that can be done is that people go, talk, and get the Chinese people involved because, if there is both internal and external pressure, you might get some change. The Chinese government is always much more willing to work a deal when it is done behind closed doors. Saving face and avoiding shame is a must for a government who legitimizes itself through nationalism. If the people feel they caved, they lose all credibility making maintaining stability even harder than it is. The government will never risk that.

If the Olympics are a disaster and China views this as a result of the West once again trying to control China, they will only become more resistant to working with us on other global issues. We can’t let that happen. China is too important- we need them on big global issues like climate change, Darfur, and Iran. Looking at Chinese history will show you how they will act now.

Chinese leaders are pragmatic. They know they need to be perceived as a global player and have done things in the past to change, albeit slowly. However, they also know they have a population of 1.4 billion that wakes up each day and needs to be feed and cared off. Their first goal is stability and they won’t risk stability for global recognition.

I don’t agree with China’s policies. I think they should do more on Darfur, talk to the Dali Lama, and reduce abuses within its borders. But the Chinese want to be taken seriously. They have come a long way from the China of Mao and one can’t expect a democracy that took us a thousand years to appear in thirty. We have prodded them this far and this is their way of showing the world they have arrived. Boycotting the Olympics, an event the Chinese see as their coming out party, will only be viewed as a slap in the face. Imagine if you boycotted your best friend’s sweet 16 party? She wouldn’t talk to you for a long time.

So don’t boycott the Olympics. Go and spread ideas. Interact with the people. Dispel myths about westerners, show them they are respected, that we can work together, and then you’ll begin change China. From the bottom up.

Matt gave up the rat race to forever explore, dream, and discovery. You can find his articles here and his daily musings at his website, www.nomadicmatt.com