COUNTERMEASURE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHINESE INFLUENCE AT UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
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Authors
Steadman, Zane H.
Subjects
China
Australia
United States
university
influence
interference
soft power
academic freedom
countermeasures
People’s Republic of China
PRC
Australia
United States
university
influence
interference
soft power
academic freedom
countermeasures
People’s Republic of China
PRC
Advisors
McClenon, Julia
Date of Issue
2024-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
China conducts operations in the information environment against other nations’ universities to dismantle academic freedom and to advance the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) strategic narratives. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of U.S. and Australian efforts to counter Chinese influence at their universities. The study conducts a systematic review of Chinese influence cases at U.S. and Australian universities using open-source data and examines the alignment and effectiveness of each countries’ countermeasures. The analysis reveals that China uses the same organizations and tactics in both countries and that U.S. and Australian universities’ financial dependence on Chinese funds is foundational to the influence efforts. The research suggests that neither Australian nor U.S. countermeasures are optimally aligned to combat Chinese influence efforts, but that U.S. legislative countermeasures have been the most effective. The research advocates that both countries decrease their universities’ financial dependence on China’s money, increase collaboration with each other, and create university cultures that defend academic freedom. Finally, the research recommends that the United States forms a task force of government and university sector members to increase coordination in combatting influence at its universities and that the U.S. government should also pursue additional legislation to combat the Chinese influence.
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Thesis
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Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.