Using The Art of War and Foundations of Geopolitics to Dismantle the Corporatocracy: A Democratic Strategy for National Electoral Politics
By Michael Kelman Portney
In an era where corporate influence pervades nearly every facet of American life, the Democratic Party has the opportunity to reclaim its identity as the party of the people by targeting the heart of the issue: the corporatocracy. By corporatocracy, we mean a system where corporations wield outsized power over legislation, economic policy, and public welfare, often at the expense of ordinary Americans. To effectively counter this, Democrats can look to unconventional sources of strategy—Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and Alexander Dugin’s Foundations of Geopolitics—both of which offer tools to challenge entrenched power structures, reshape public influence, and rally people around a united cause.
This paper explores how Democrats can apply strategic insights from these works to craft a coherent, compelling strategy aimed at dismantling the corporatocracy, promoting economic justice, and fostering a democratic vision that is resilient and responsive to the needs of the public.
1. Understanding and Adapting to the Political Terrain: Insights from The Art of War
One of the central lessons of The Art of War is the importance of knowing and adapting to the “terrain” before engaging in battle. For Democrats, the terrain is the vast and deeply rooted influence of corporate power, which shapes policy, media, labor practices, and environmental regulations. To navigate and ultimately dismantle this system, Democrats need to fully understand the scope of corporate influence across regions and tailor their approach accordingly.
A. Knowing the Political Terrain of Corporate Influence
Corporations have established themselves not only as economic entities but as political players, influencing everything from lobbying to campaign finance. Sun Tzu’s emphasis on understanding the terrain before acting highlights the need to map and expose the ways corporatocracy functions in different regions and sectors.
• Exposing Localized Corporate Influence: In regions where specific industries dominate—such as oil in Texas or tech in California—Democrats could focus on educating the public about the impact of corporate power on local policy, economic inequality, and worker rights.
• Building Alliances with Local Organizations: Sun Tzu advocates forming alliances to bolster strength. Democrats could collaborate with local unions, worker cooperatives, and environmental groups to create a united front against corporate influence and advocate for worker and community-centered policies.
B. Adapting Tactics to Target Corporate Power
Sun Tzu also stresses the importance of flexibility and adaptability, avoiding predictable patterns and seizing opportunities as they arise. For Democrats, this means evolving beyond traditional messaging and taking direct aim at the influence of corporations on American life.
• Highlighting Corporate Failures and Greed: Instead of focusing solely on abstract policy discussions, Democrats can expose specific instances of corporate overreach, such as environmental damage or labor exploitation, turning these events into rallying points.
• Asymmetrical Tactics to Undermine Corporate Strongholds: Just as Sun Tzu advises using asymmetrical tactics, Democrats can harness grassroots movements, digital campaigns, and boycotts to disrupt and expose corporate practices, particularly in industries where direct legislative change is challenging.
2. Influence and Ideological Warfare: Lessons from Foundations of Geopolitics
In Foundations of Geopolitics, Dugin emphasizes the importance of ideological influence and cultural warfare, suggesting that changing public opinion is often more powerful than direct confrontation. For Democrats, this means shaping a narrative that openly challenges the legitimacy of corporate dominance and fosters a culture that values democracy over profit.
A. Using Cultural Influence to Challenge Corporate Dominance
Dugin’s strategy highlights the role of ideological influence in shaping public opinion and shifting cultural perspectives. For Democrats, this translates into creating a cultural movement that reveals the harms of corporatocracy and centers the well-being of citizens over corporate interests.
• Framing the Fight as a Struggle for Democratic Integrity: By positioning themselves as the party that champions democracy against corporate overreach, Democrats could emphasize that unchecked corporate power undermines citizens’ rights, suppresses wages, damages the environment, and distorts policy.
• Creating Cultural Narratives of Economic Justice: Democrats could use media, entertainment, and social platforms to tell stories that resonate emotionally with the public, illustrating the human cost of corporate greed and the benefits of policies that prioritize people over profits.
B. Building Alliances and Coalitions to Weaken the Corporatocracy
Dugin emphasizes the importance of alliances, even with unlikely partners, to counterbalance dominant powers. To dismantle the corporatocracy, Democrats could build coalitions with groups that may not traditionally align with progressive ideals but share an interest in reducing corporate influence.
• Forging Alliances with Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs: Many small businesses struggle against large corporations that dominate markets and lobbying. By allying with small business associations and entrepreneurs, Democrats could present a united front advocating for economic policies that curb corporate monopolies.
• Engaging Disaffected Moderates and Independents: There are moderates, conservatives, and independents who feel alienated by the corporatocracy’s influence on healthcare, drug pricing, and environmental policy. By appealing to these common interests, Democrats could build a broader coalition focused on restoring power to the people.
3. Psychological and Strategic Maneuvering to Undermine the Corporate Agenda
Both The Art of War and Foundations of Geopolitics discuss the use of psychological tactics to undermine opponents. For Democrats, this means creating a psychological narrative that delegitimizes corporate power, projects strength, and cultivates public distrust in corporate-dominated politics.
A. Creating Psychological Distance from Corporatocracy
Sun Tzu advises creating a psychological advantage over opponents by projecting strength and unity. Democrats can emphasize their commitment to democratic principles, economic fairness, and anti-corruption, contrasting themselves with a corporate-driven political system.
• Branding Corporate Control as “Anti-Democratic”: Democrats can frame the corporatocracy as antithetical to democratic values, portraying unchecked corporate influence as a threat to freedom and justice. This creates a psychological divide that undermines corporate credibility.
• Reinforcing Public Distrust in Corporate Interests: By highlighting cases of corporate lobbying, environmental violations, and worker exploitation, Democrats can foster a sense of public mistrust, positioning themselves as the party of accountability and transparency.
B. Diversifying Tactics to Counter Corporate Influence
Dugin advises diversifying tactics to counterbalance dominant powers. Democrats can apply this principle by mobilizing underutilized voter bases, expanding outreach to marginalized communities, and focusing on areas where corporate practices are particularly damaging.
• Mobilizing Disenfranchised Communities: Marginalized communities often bear the brunt of corporate malpractices—such as environmental pollution, healthcare inequities, and exploitative labor practices. Democrats could specifically engage these communities to build a unified base of opposition to corporate influence.
• Expanding Influence in Corporate-Heavy Regions: In regions heavily impacted by corporate industries (e.g., energy states, agricultural areas), Democrats can address local concerns directly, highlighting corporate harms and proposing solutions that prioritize local residents over corporate profits.
4. Defensive Strategy: Protecting Democratic Strongholds from Corporate Encroachment
Both Sun Tzu and Dugin emphasize the importance of defending strongholds before expanding. For Democrats, this means reinforcing support in traditionally blue regions that may be vulnerable to corporate lobbying, misinformation, and anti-regulation campaigns.
A. Fortifying Democratic Bases Against Corporate Misinformation
Sun Tzu advises securing one’s base to build a foundation for future efforts. Democrats should focus on solidifying support in strongholds, countering corporate-backed misinformation campaigns, and ensuring these areas remain engaged and informed.
• Strengthening Voter Education and Engagement: In areas where corporate misinformation is prevalent, Democrats could invest in voter education efforts that expose the true impact of corporate policies on healthcare, wages, and the environment.
• Preventing Subversion Through Transparency: Both Sun Tzu and Dugin stress the importance of preventing subversion. Democrats could combat corporate-backed disinformation by providing transparent, fact-based counter-narratives that highlight corporate influence and its detrimental effects.
B. Expanding Influence in Competitive Regions
Once strongholds are secure, Democrats can turn their attention to competitive regions. Following Sun Tzu’s advice, Democrats could focus their efforts where they have realistic chances of gaining ground, emphasizing issues that directly counter corporate priorities, such as anti-monopoly regulations, labor rights, and environmental protections.
• Localized Messaging Against Corporate Power: In competitive regions, Democrats can focus on issues that expose the negative effects of corporatocracy on local economies and community welfare, creating a clear contrast between the party’s values and corporate-driven policies.
• Flexibility in Resource Allocation: By monitoring polling data and shifting resources as needed, Democrats can remain agile, concentrating efforts in areas where opposition to corporate power resonates most strongly.
Mentioning a Universal Message
Although tailoring messages to local concerns is effective, there is value in a one-size-fits-all message that encapsulates the party’s opposition to corporate control. Like “Make America Great Again,” a slogan such as “Power to the People” or “Democracy for All” could reinforce the anti-corporate agenda in a clear, resonant way.
• Building a Movement for Economic Democracy: A single, universal message would help unify Democrats around the idea of reclaiming power from corporations, drawing support from Americans who feel left behind by the current economic system.
• Projecting Stability and Unity: This broad message could also reinforce the Democrats as a stable, united party with a clear vision, attracting voters who seek consistency and purpose in their political affiliations.
Conclusion: Strategic Lessons for Dismantling the Corporatocracy
By adapting strategic insights from The Art of War and Foundations of Geopolitics, Democrats can cultivate a flexible, resilient strategy aimed at dismantling the corporatocracy and restoring economic and democratic integrity. Drawing on Sun Tzu’s emphasis on understanding the terrain and Dugin’s lessons in ideological warfare, Democrats could create a compelling, people-centered narrative that challenges corporate power and champions the rights of ordinary Americans.
This approach enables the Democratic Party to project itself as a force for economic justice, transparency, and accountability. By combining local alliances, psychological strategies, and an overarching message of power to the people, Democrats could position themselves as the party of democratic renewal in the face of corporate domination, inspiring a movement that prioritizes people over profits.
