[The Editors' Verdict] The World Cup's Warning to Authoritarianism

Baek Jong-min, Opinion Editor

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Jong-min] The Qatar World Cup is creating unexpected butterfly effects, sending ripples through the international landscape. Given that it could become another variable impacting the global community already battered by the Russia-Ukraine war and inflation, our government also needs to analyze these repercussions and prepare accordingly.

The first priority is China. The impact of the ongoing anti-government protests within China since the World Cup's opening is far from simple. Depending on how Xi Jinping, who has just secured a third term as China's President, responds, it could even alter the global economic flow. Although China was founded on communism, the collective leadership system, which maintained balance through factional competition rather than dictatorship, played a significant role. President Xi, however, has shifted this to one-man rule, going against global trends. The government's 'Big Brother' role through social networking services (SNS) and internet censorship contradicts the worldwide trend of communication and exchange. The Chinese people, confined within a cage, only realized their controlled situation upon watching the World Cup broadcasts. Though only a small fraction of China's 1.4 billion population, the protesters who took to the streets under the question "Why are we the only ones under zero-COVID?" attracted global media attention through their 'blank sheet protests.'

It is unlikely that the Chinese government will accept the protesters' demands. On the contrary, Chinese state media have been deleting footage of World Cup spectators without masks, which sparked the protests. This indicates a focus on covering up rather than change. Such responses could provoke greater backlash from the Chinese people. The most worrisome scenario is a tragic event similar to the Tiananmen Square incident. With the zero-COVID policy already causing what is considered the worst economic situation since Tiananmen, not only China but the entire world could face a crisis even greater than the Russia-Ukraine war.

The situation in Iran is also serious. Iranian athletes representing the country, despite having done nothing wrong, are receiving cold stares at the World Cup after the government violently suppressed women's rights protests. The U.S. team even went as far as desecrating the Iranian flag ahead of their match, which is clearly a negative factor in the nuclear negotiations between the two countries. Nevertheless, it is evident that the U.S. will not compromise on Iran's human rights issues.

The Western bloc, led by the U.S., holds a simple perspective: democratization. After the turbulent era of Donald Trump, the democratization led by President Joe Biden is spreading worldwide beyond the U.S. Oppression of women, minorities, and religious groups for dictatorship and traditionalism no longer aligns with global norms.

Turning the focus to us, the Moon Jae-in administration concentrated solely on denuclearization and peace agreements, turning a blind eye to North Korea's human rights. Unlike the U.S. and others, we failed to take an active stance on the Hong Kong protests during China's takeover. Our country's first-ever failure to be re-elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) was not a mere coincidence. The Yoon Suk-yeol administration must be different. Compared to the Russia-Ukraine war, the situations in China and Iran are more closely related to us. However, pursuing only the benefits from relations with China and Iran risks falling behind in international solidarity. We must proactively establish meticulous measures that ensure responsible actions in the international community while securing our own interests. That is the role of a global pivotal state.