The Evolving Nature of Power
For decades, U.S. policymakers have
relied on a mix of hard and soft power to influence both adversaries and
allies. Hard power, rooted in military strength, was used to protect friends
and deter or defeat enemies. Soft power, on the other hand, involved promoting
U.S. values to attract others to the American cause. While both forms of power
remain important, they no longer determine a country's success as they once
did. Today, the United States must focus on expanding its "knowledge
power"—the ability to advance national interests through the generation of
transformational technology.
The Dual Components of Knowledge
Power
Knowledge power consists of two
crucial elements: innovation and anticipation. Innovation refers to a nation's
capacity to produce and leverage technological breakthroughs. Anticipation
involves intelligence—understanding the intentions and capabilities of foreign
adversaries that might threaten U.S. interests. Traditionally, this has been
the domain of U.S. spy agencies. However, as the line between domestic industry
and foreign policy blurs, intelligence agencies must also help the government
grasp the implications of technologies developed domestically.
Looking Inward: The Domestic
Focus of Knowledge Power
Unlike traditional foreign policy
tools that focus outward—using threats, force, and values to influence foreign
actors—knowledge power requires the U.S. to look inward. It involves harnessing
ideas, talent, and technology to ensure that the United States and its allies
thrive, regardless of the actions of China or other adversaries. The strength
of this power lies not just in bolstering military capabilities or enhancing
global appeal but in building a robust foundation at home.
Educational Proficiency: The
Foundation of Innovation
The first step in building knowledge
power is improving national educational proficiency. A well-educated workforce
is a key driver of long-term economic growth. Historical evidence supports
this: in 1960, East Asia's GDP per capita was nearly equal to that of
sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, over the next 30 years, East Asia surged ahead,
largely due to significant improvements in education.
Concentration of Talent: A
Catalyst for Breakthroughs
Another critical indicator of
knowledge power is the geographic concentration of technological talent.
Countries with clusters of leading scientists and engineers are more likely to
make critical advancements. Proximity matters—having the world's top minds
working closely together in labs fosters the environment necessary for
technological breakthroughs. This is why top scientists recruit superstar teams
and collaborate in physical spaces rather than working in isolation.
The Role of Research Universities
in Innovation
The long-term power of a nation also
depends on the health of its research universities. While companies play a
vital role in technological innovation, the process often begins much
earlier—in university labs and classrooms. Unlike companies, which must focus
on near-term commercial prospects, research universities are free to explore
basic research, which delves into questions on the frontiers of knowledge.
Although basic research may take decades to yield practical applications, it is
the bedrock of many commercial breakthroughs, such as radar, GPS, and the
Internet.
The Hidden Foundations of
Technological Success
Recent advancements, such as
mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, may appear to be overnight successes, but they
are built on decades of basic research conducted at universities. Before
pharmaceutical companies could develop these vaccines, academic researchers had
spent years discovering that mRNA could activate and block protein cells and
learning how to deliver it to human cells to trigger an immune response.
Similarly, the cryptographic algorithms that secure data on the Internet today
originated from years of academic research in pure mathematics. Many of the
latest advances in AI, from ChatGPT to image recognition, are also rooted in
pioneering work conducted at institutions like the University of Toronto, the
University of Montreal, and Stanford University.
Conclusion: Building a Future on
Knowledge Power
To maintain its global leadership,
the United States must shift its focus to nurturing and expanding its knowledge
power. By fostering innovation and enhancing its ability to anticipate
technological and geopolitical trends, the U.S. can secure its future
prosperity and security. This requires a deep investment in education,
research, and the strategic concentration of talent, ensuring that the country
remains at the forefront of technological advancement
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