Putin vs Trump: 9 Stratagem Capabilities

According to the wisdom of the Thirty-Six Chinese Stratagems, a leader can be a winner in politics, war and diplomatic struggles if he possesses high scores in nine stratagem capabilities. The following is an assessment of the capabilities of both Putin and Trump as leaders using the traditional Chinese stratagems.

According to the wisdom of the Thirty-Six Chinese Stratagems, a leader can be a winner in politics, war and diplomatic struggles if he possesses high scores in nine stratagem capabilities. The following is an assessment of the capabilities of both Putin and Trump as leaders using the traditional Chinese stratagems.

1. Capability of Belief(信力)

One aspect of this capability refers to how much a person believes that he can make a change. On surface, Trump seems to have a greater belief in change; he is tough, arrogant, and decisive. He has a firm attitude for making “America great again.” Though Putin’s style is soft on surface, he is clam and confident. Putin has also shown himself to be decisive throughout the military operation in Ukraine. He has a long-term vision for the betterment of Russia, as he even stepped down to act as Premier before being re-elected, now serving the country as President. Aside from belief and faith, the Chinese character “信” also connotes credibility and trust. If a leader’s credibility is high, he will also be seen as more trustworthy person which can help create a more cohesive team. Trump has been known to often fire members of his staff and was even abandoned by his chief strategist, Steve Bannon. Putin, on the other hand, has generated more stability and trust within his inner circle.

2. Capability of Parting With(捨力)

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According to Chinese wisdom, giving up is sometimes key to survival. Retreat may be a necessary step to move forward. It is most difficult to part with something that is most treasured, as it requires both foresight and courage. Trump as a businessman will only give up something when its value is deemed low. However, his business-oriented mindset may not be sufficient to grasp the real value of an issue in the long run, easily leading him to unnecessarily let go of what he deems too costly. On the other hand, Putin reviews all information before deciding on a concession, leading to a much better strategic advantage. Hence, a leader must not only have the capability to know when to part with something, but to also be able to evaluate the matter skillfully and prudently before giving up.

3. Capability of Self Restraint (戒力)

Knowing how to control and restrain one’s desires is essential for leadership. On occasion, leaders must overcome excessive desires, including fame and greed. Compared to Putin, Trump is weaker in this regard. The master of the White House always likes to show off in every aspect, which has even become a part of his signature style. Trump’s desire for exposure and attention makes him difficult to contain and restrain his innate energy. Putin, on the other hand, is different. He worked as an intelligence officer and harnesses self-discipline. Self-restraint and compliance had been integrated into his day-to-day life for a long time. Putin believes that personal desires and outrageous conduct is an obstacle to success.

4. Capability of Forwardness (進力)

Idleness and laziness are common weaknesses. If a leader has the capacity to move forward and grow continuously, he will be the winner at the end. Both Putin and Trump are highly capable to move their nations forward with persistence and courage. Even in his last term, Trump already aimed to “make America great again,” even though he was beaten by the Democrats in the re-election campaign. However, he had not given up this dream and continues this mission diligently in his new term. Putin is no different; he moves Russia forward without interruption, since he was first elected as President and to this very day, making Russia great again after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

5. Capability of Mind Power (念力)

Mind power does not merely refer to intellectuality or smartness. It means the ability to have a holistic heart that is in harmony with the universe so that one can respond to external challenges smoothly and creatively. This capability can be cultivated by a combination of knowledge and experience and shaped by personality and character. Both Trump and Putin have high a capability of mind power. According to the wisdom of this Chinese stratagem, mind power contributes to two leadership traits. The first is the spontaneity, which is essential for quick action and survival. A trick appears in the mind like a reflex. Being born and raised in American culture and with all-American values, Trump’s experiences have helped him develop spontaneity. On the other hand, Putin’s strength lies on another aspect of the stratagem – comprehensiveness. According to Chinese wisdom, a good stratagem should look like a large net without holes. Thus, a good stratagem practitioner should think comprehensively to block all loopholes. Putin’s personality and style highly qualifies him to be labeled as a comprehensive thinker and a good stratagem practitioner in this regard.

6. Capability of Stillness(定力)

This is the power to concentrate and not be easily distracted by external stimuli. Such a capability can only be judged by observing the two leaders when they are on camera, particularly when answering questions from the media. Though Trump’s posture appears very focused when the camera is rolling, he can easily be stimulated when challenged and often switches his demeanor and attacks back. This means his mastery of inward stillness is far from perfect. In comparison, Putin is calm and patient and rarely responds excessively to provocation. This is a result from his own experiences and longtime practice of stillness.

7. Capability of Wisdom(慧力)

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In the context of Chinese leadership stratagems, wisdom means the capability to remove all worries. Traditionally, this even means having a positive attitude towards worries. In Taoism, fortune and disaster form a dialectic relationship. As Loa Tsz said, “When bad things happen, who knows if it is indeed a fortune?”. Using wisdom, setbacks can be turned into opportunities. For example, Trump was charged for many offences before the presidential election, even appearing several times in court. However, he used these challenges to drive up popular support, by challenging what he considered to be political manipulation and oppression by the Democrats. Confucianism teaches that, “When we are situated in a comfort zone, we should always think about danger!” Putin and his leadership skills encapsulate such an approach. When Russia seemed to be in harmony with the West after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Putin remained concerned about NATO’s expansion into ex-Soviet territories. Hence, the Kremlin has been on high alert on the matter, contributing to its current decision to deter this potential threat militarily.

8. Capability of Tao(道力)

Tao means the “way” or “path” and is related to cosmology and metaphysics. Putin has a strong metaphysical mission for Russia: to contain the negative forces fueling the West for sake of protecting traditional values and global stability. This not only enriches Putin’s innate power as a leader but also motivates the Russian people by embracing a united national spirit and bringing order in the universe. On the contrary, Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again!” appears shallower and more materialistic in nature. It serves to support isolationism and a secular ideology without touching the interconnectedness of the cosmological order. Diplomatically, any statecraft that corresponds with cosmology may foster better convergence among nations, creating an invisible alliance.

9. Capability of Virtue (德力)

When talking about virtues, most people view them as absolute and constant attributes. In the Chinese wisdom of Yin-Yang – derived from Book of Changes or I-Ching – everything is dialectic. To have virtues is not to strictly stick to moral principles but to understand the dialectic change of opposites. This requires a leader that can make insightful observations and flexible decisions for the sake of balance. On the surface, an act may appear cruel but there may be some hidden morality to be uphold. On the other hand, something that appears to be universally correct may secretly bring about negative forces in the long run. Hence, the capability of virtues necessitates courage and insight. If a leader can embrace virtues with insights into dialectic changing circumstances, he has skillfully mastered the art of virtues. Both Putin and Trump have courage and skill in adapting to changing circumstances. The difference lies in the insistence on virtues. From a personality perspective, Putin is a cool-headed leader, making his decision-making more comprehensive and rational, always accounting for his embraced virtues. On the other hand, Trump is relatively sentimental and relies on populism, so his positions may sometime be swayed by his own emotions and the mood of the people, which may in turn lead him to forget or neglect the relevance of certain virtues in his policies.

When studying geopolitics and international affairs, it is vital to also consider the characteristics that contribute to the makeup of leaders. Such aspects go beyond psychology or personality, becoming more a question of wisdom and art.