The ‘Chicken’ Games !

What is the ‘point of no return’, in diplomatic mind games?

Sharad’s Sunday Sojourns (week # 487 | 15th August 2021)

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” … Aristotle.

As petite as it seems and sound, this meek creature has been rightfully or wrongfully pulled out into sublime analogies via the global, tactical warfare between governments and administrations, states and countries, politicians and diplomats, and only God knows what else! Historical evidence behind this is uncertain, but public examples are perpetual and universal! (Image source: betterchickencommitment)

Apparently, chicken games refer to the context of winning or accepting defeat.

As in ‘chickening out’, i.e., probably much in the context of accepting a moral defeat, without putting up a significant effort.

An analogy can be drawn with the incident concerning the US Attorney General in the Congress in the summer of 2019, when his absence was ‘celebrated’ by consuming literal chickens and placing a chicken statuette on his table!

Probably, much of these could be attributed to a common perception that chicken symbolises cowardice (really? not knew earlier!).

Many would argue and draw analogies from economics, and the associated ‘zero sum game’.

However, in reality, this could be attempted with some degree of convention.

What is it, actually? Simple.

Both parties should anticipate beforehand, what the other party is supposed to do. When you observe that the other party is following the identical course of action, which you had originally anticipated, then you have to move away! Otherwise, you remain on course, and the other party follow the identical course of action!

Time and again, we come across incidents in real life, which ascertain arguments both in favour and against this simple assertion.

Hollywood, for instance, has taken this to an altogether another level.

Take for instance, ‘Rebel without a cause’. Or let’s say, ‘Footloose’.

If you remember the correct sequences in these movies, characters suffer sad endings as a consequence of this, irrespective of anything.

Is there any better example of ‘chicken’ games than the ‘cold war’? It lasted nearly half a century (1945–1989). Wait! Has it really ended? (Image source: Thinkstock / BBC)

What’s the point?

What’s the rationale?

Well, let’s listen to none other than Bertrand Russell, who correctly asserted that the governments and countries today are playing chicken games at their highest possible diplomatic potential.

Take anything, pandemic, environment, nuclear power adaptability … the foreign policies are predominantly adopted and advertised based on mind games!

How far one can go without putting them under the guillotine?

In other words, where exactly is the ‘point of no return’?

As such, from a superficial perspective, this does not present concerns, should they be tried at minuscule levels.

But when the statesmen are involved, the consequences affect not only them, but the citizens too!

Have they thought about it?

United States and China have always been involved in ‘chicken’ games. Although evidently, it reached historic proportions during the early days of the pandemic. Remember the remark by the ex-POTUS: ‘China-virus’! (Image source: GQBUZZ)

Want some concrete illustrations?

Consider the ‘tug-of-war’ between China and United States, in the wake of the pandemic.

Of course, you would admit that things were made worse by ridiculous comments coming from the ex-POTUS, but it is what it is!

Then, let’s take the Paris Agreement.

Today, everyone is spellbound witnessing the projected devastations of the IPCC report.

But attempting environmental sustainability has been perhaps the most colossal mind game of recent times!

And then, the perpetual tension between India and the neighbouring countries, Russia and United States (forgot cold war days!), and of course, Biden’s decision to withdrew troops from Afghanistan.

You may or may not struggle to link the dots, but it’s crystal, as they often proclaim!

Although not strictly a ‘chicken’ game, Biden’s decision to withdrew troops completely from Afghanistan could backfire, with the Taliban poised to almost certainly recapture Kabul in the coming days / weeks. On this instance, I believe US did not assume the ‘point of no return’ convincingly! (Image source: AP / Republic World)

I am not in favour of ultra-transparency in diplomatic warfare.

That’s suicidal!

I am not in favour of abolishing mind games altogether in world politics.

That would be idiocy!

I am in favour of a coherent backdrop and a realistic counter-view.

Sadly, that’s AWOL!