If Foreign Influence Is the Problem, Why Is the Outrage So Selective?

There is a question that deserves an honest answer from the Democratic Party and the progressive activists who have made foreign influence a central political issue.

Why is so much outrage directed at AIPAC and pro-Israel political activity, while far less attention is paid to the influence of countries such as Qatar and Turkey—governments with deeply troubling records on human rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, minority rights and political freedom?

AIPAC is an American organization. Its political activity is conducted within the American political system and under U.S. law. Americans can disagree with AIPAC’s policies, its political spending or its support for particular candidates. Those are legitimate political debates.

But there is a difference between an American organization participating in American politics and an actual foreign government using its wealth, diplomatic relationships, lobbying operations, universities and political consultants to influence American institutions.

And yet, in many progressive political circles, AIPAC is treated as if it represents the ultimate form of foreign influence, while actual foreign governments often receive far less scrutiny.

Qatar: A Foreign Government With Enormous Influence

Qatar is an authoritarian monarchy with no national political parties and severely limited political participation.

Women in Qatar face discrimination under aspects of the country’s legal system, including laws involving marriage, divorce, child custody and guardianship. The guardianship system has been criticized for limiting women’s ability to make important decisions independently.

Qatar also criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity between men. LGBTQ people face legal and social discrimination, and there are no comprehensive protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers has also drawn extensive international criticism. Many of the workers who built Qatar’s massive infrastructure projects came from South Asia and Africa. Migrant workers have faced allegations involving wage theft, recruitment abuses, unsafe working conditions and exploitation under the country’s former kafala labor system.

The 2022 World Cup brought international attention to the conditions faced by migrant workers who built stadiums, hotels and infrastructure for the tournament.

Qatar has also become a major financial force in American higher education. The country has provided billions of dollars in reported gifts and contracts to American universities. The question is not whether every donation automatically buys influence. The question is whether Americans are asking enough questions about how foreign money can shape institutions that influence American culture, education and public........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)