THE 21ST CENTURY SCARLET LETTER: CHINA’S USE OF DIGITAL GLOBAL INFLUENCE TO GAIN POWER AND WEAKEN U.S. LEADERSHIP

Abstract

China, the United States’ greatest strategic rival, has notably tested a social credit system (SCS) since 2014 to regionally monitor citizens as part of a seemingly new digital caste system. The SCS, which was scheduled for nationwide release in 2020, is a concern for the United States and its allies, as the system will serve as an alternative means for China to exert its influence across the country. In addition, given Beijing’s growing global presence through China’s Digital Silk Road, the SCS equally poses a threat as an external influence on the government and business environments of participating countries who may model the system. China’s increased presence and influence could threaten the United States’ lead within the Great Power Competition. This thesis explores the impact of government social-media monitoring on the civil liberties of citizens through a binomial logistic regression and examines the potential for SCS to be adopted through a case study of differing governing structures. The thesis conceptually explains the vulnerabilities of China’s internal and external influence tactics that should be tracked and countered by the United States in an effort to maintain its strategic advantage.