Latest news with #MichaelCorleone
Economic Times
03-08-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
It profits to be kind: Why there is no glory in building a billion-dollar business while emotionally bankrupting people
We live in a business world that celebrates speed, scale and the next shiny disruption. We chase unicorns, glorify moonshots, track every click and every KPI. We've taught machines to talk, apps to flirt and AI to write poetry. But in the race to digitise and optimise, somewhere along the way we forgot to humanise. We began treating people like passwords-necessary to log in but quickly forgotten. In today's world, kindness and empathy aren't optional virtues, they are essential infrastructure. Corporate folklore has long idolised the 'tough boss', a hybrid of Michael Corleone and Steve Jobs, who storms into meetings, demands miracles within a day and fires people on the spot. Yes, they may deliver results, but they often leave behind trails of burnout, anxiety-ridden juniors and a spate of resignation letters. The truth is, there's no glory in building a billion-dollar business while emotionally bankrupting your people. Leadership built on fear eventually collapses under its own insecurity. Kindness does not mean being weak. Empathy is not a sign of indecision. Research now shows that empathetic leaders create healthier, more productive and cohesive organisations. Think of empathy as the Wi-Fi of your organisation. Invisible, often taken for granted, but when it goes missing, nothing a 2024 McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, 'It's cool to be kind: The value of empathy at work,' Stanford psychologist and author of The War for Kindness Jamil Zaki, talks about empathy having three distinct forms: Cognitive empathy: Ability to understand what someone is feeling. Emotional empathy: Actually feeling what another person feels. It's what makes you wince when someone else is hurting or smile when they succeed. Compassionate empathy: Perhaps most crucial for leadership, ability not just to feel, but to act. It's empathy with legs. Great leaders blend all three. But where's the RoI? Retention: Empathetic cultures see far lower attrition. Losing good people is expensive. Keeping them through understanding and sympathy is far more precious. Innovation: People only take creative risks when they feel psychologically safe. You can't tell someone to 'think outside the box' while boxing them in with fear. Reputation: In today's social media age, leaks of a toxic culture spread fast, with reputations being the first casualty. Genuine empathy builds solid loyalty. Empathy at work is about letting someone leave early to care for a sick parent. It's about not scheduling 10 pm calls just because your inspiration strikes at night. It's giving feedback with dignity. Celebrating effort, not just outcomes. Listening without interrupting. An empathetic attitude is especially vital when it comes to supporting women in the workplace. Whether it's navigating maternity, caregiving responsibilities, uncomfortable situations, or simply having a say in meeting rooms, women face unique challenges. When women feel heard, supported and safe, entire organisations rise. Kindness isn't a policy you paste on a wall. It's a value you live by daily. It shows up when you celebrate someone's small win, or when you cancel a meeting because your colleague has a problematic situation, or when you write a handwritten note to thank a retiring team member, or when you ask after their health. And as Zaki says, empathy isn't a talent, it's a skill that can be built up just like any also a compelling generational shift underway. Gen Z and millennials are more concerned about purpose of the organisation. They want to work for companies that value their emotional wellbeing. They want managers who ask questions, try to understand and resolve matters, not just give instructions.A May 2025 Deloitte study found that 69% of employees would work harder if they felt more appreciated. In 2018, Gallup reported that teams in the US with engaged leaders showed 21% greater pandemic was also a brutal teacher. But it taught us that in times of crisis, people don't only remember how quickly you responded, but they also remember how human you there's humour, an underrated management tool. When used with grace, it can break tension, open up honesty and deliver tough messages in a soft wrapper. Laced with empathy, humour is like adrak ki chai, a little sharp, yet warm and easy to outlives designations and market cycles, and outshines strategy decks. You don't get quoted for how many hours you worked. You get remembered for the one moment you paused and truly connected with individual acts are not enough. We need empathy by design. It must reflect in our policies and behaviour-from parental leave to mental health access, from how we onboard juniors to how we offboard seniors. Every company's balance sheet should include a new item line: empathy let's continue to innovate, automate, scale and grow. But let us also remember that no machine, metric or model will ever replace the quiet power of a kind word spoken at the right time. To every leader out there: be kind. Not just when it's easy. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Zomato delivered, but did the other listed unicorns? US tariff hike to hit Indian exports, may push RBI towards rate cuts Will TCS layoffs open the floodgates of mass firing at Indian IT firms? Indian IT firms never reveal the truth hiding behind 'strong' deal wins Is Bajaj Finance facing its HDFC Bank moment? Tata Motors' INR38k crore Iveco buy: Factors that can make investors nervous Stock Radar: Strides Pharma stock hits fresh 52-week high in July; will the rally continue in August? F&O Radar| Deploy Short Strangle in Nifty to gain from Theta decay For investors who can think beyond Trump: 5 large-cap stocks with an upside potential of up to 36%
Time Business News
01-08-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
The Godfather's Guide to Modern Organizational Success
What may come to mind when you think of The Godfather are memorable quotes, dramatic confrontations, or loyalty. Beyond its artistic excellence, however, The Godfather is a highly strategic story that reflects actual difficulties that today's business leaders endure. The Corleone family didn't just run an empire they built a legacy rooted in loyalty, negotiation, risk management, and long-term succession planning. The following six timeless business lessons from The Godfather are still very applicable to executives, entrepreneurs, and human resources directors in the region in 2025. In The Godfather , Michael Corleone's unexpected rise to power wasn't just a dramatic twist—it was a leadership masterclass. While Sonny, the eldest son, was the obvious heir, his impulsiveness and emotional nature made him a risky choice. Michael, the quieter and more strategic son, ultimately proved to be the right successor not because of his birth order, but because of his ability to think long term, remain composed under pressure, and protect the legacy of the family. In the business world, succession planning often defaults to seniority or tenure, but that approach can backfire. The reality is that not everyone with experience is ready to lead, and not every future leader fits into a traditional mold. Strategic succession is about identifying the right person for the right role at the right time and preparing them early. Succession planning should be a proactive and ongoing process, not a reaction to a crisis. Identify critical leadership roles and map potential successors across departments Assess leadership potential, not just current performance, using structured tools like 360° feedback, personality assessments, and leadership simulations Create development plans with stretch assignments, coaching, and targeted training to prepare successors over time Involve stakeholders from HR, the C-suite, and the board to ensure alignment and transparency When done right, succession planning creates stability, protects institutional knowledge, and builds long-term leadership capacity. It is not just about who takes over next; it is about ensuring your business is future-ready. In the film, emotional reactions led to poor judgment, while strategic restraint led to long-term success. Today's business leaders must also refrain from making rash choices, particularly in high-stress situations like performance reviews, negotiations, or crisis management. Set up a culture of thoughtful decision-making to assist your teams in substituting discipline for reactivity. Implement decision-making frameworks (e.g., SWOT, risk-benefit matrices) for major initiatives for major initiatives Offer emotional intelligence (EQ) training to help leaders manage pressure and conflict training to help leaders manage pressure and conflict Establish peer review processes or escalation protocols to pause impulsive decisions Leaders make decisions that are more reliable, consistent, and prepared for the future when they strike a balance between emotion and structure. Don Vito gave instructions clearly and trusted others to deliver. He didn't micromanage he empowered. His leadership style emphasized clarity, delegation, and trust. That's what modern teams need most. Set your people up for success by being clear, consistent, and confident in their ability to execute. Use plain language when communicating decisions or expectations Define ownership clearly and avoid overcomplicating project roles Invest in leadership development programs that train managers to coach, not control When teams know what to do and feel trusted to do it, engagement, speed, and quality all improve. Strong leadership often involves doing what is right, not what is convenient. Don Vito stood firm on decisions that aligned with his long-term vision, even when others disagreed. In business, that kind of principled leadership is rare and valuable. Encourage courage and consistency in decision-making across your organization. Create a values-based decision-making framework to guide strategic choices Build governance processes that evaluate short-term versus long-term effects Normalize open dialogue and disagreement in leadership meetings Offer psychological safety for leaders who challenge groupthink Unpopular decisions made with integrity often become the most respected ones in hindsight. As the Don wisely advised, 'Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.' The Corleone family monitored every action taken by the other Five Families. It wasn't by chance that Vito Corleone's advisors learned of Sollozzo's alliance with the Tattaglia family it was the outcome of consistent awareness, communication, and initiative. In business, the lesson is clear: staying blind to competitors is not a neutral position, it's a risk. Make competitive intelligence a core element of business strategy, not an afterthought. Assign cross-functional teams to monitor competitor partnerships, products, and market trends Use market reports, industry trends, and customer feedback to create a full picture of your landscape Benchmark not only pricing but also innovation, service quality, and employer branding Include external insights in quarterly business reviews alongside internal KPIs Use competitor intelligence to refine positioning, forecast shifts, and uncover new opportunities The organizations that thrive are the ones that listen, observe, and move decisively before the market forces them to. One of the most important lessons in The Godfather is about trust. From betrayals within the family to broken alliances, the cost of misplaced trust is high. Carlo's betrayal led to Sonny's death, and Fredo's disloyalty nearly destroyed Michael's leadership. Your success in business can be influenced by the people you trust, both inside and outside your company. Trust is the foundation that keeps everything together — whether it's a family business, a leadership group, or a network of partners. Be clear about responsibilities and expectations across your team Choose partners who share your values and long-term goals Encourage honest conversations and open feedback Address conflict early to avoid long-term damage Build relationships over time based on consistency and shared purpose Strong businesses are built on strong relationships. Trust is not a soft skill. It is a business advantage. The power of The Godfather lies not only in its storytelling but in its enduring insights into leadership, legacy, and transformation. In today's business environment, where organizations must navigate constant change, talent scarcity, and cultural shifts, these lessons remain more relevant than ever. If there is anything leaders can learn from the Corleone family, it is this: Earn trust before you demand performance Lead with clarity, not ego Plan for transitions before they happen Evolve, but stay grounded in your purpose Power means nothing without discipline. Great businesses, like great legacies, are built with intention, not in the end, it is not about making an offer they cannot refuse. It is about creating a vision people choose to follow. Turn these lessons into action. Reach out to Procapita Group's Advisory, Talent, or Audit team. Whether you're planning leadership transitions, developing your team, or aligning strategy with culture, we're here to help you build a legacy that lasts. Get in touch with our experts today to explore how we can support your organization's next chapter. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Spectator
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Confessions of a new intake Labour MP: ‘We're not here to make friends'
Keir Starmer has struck again. Compounding his reputation as a ruthless operator – like Michael Corleone – he is settling all family business by removing the whip from a number of troublemaking MPs, including Neil Duncan Jordan, Chris Hinchcliff, Brian Leishman and Rachel Maskell. This comes after each led respective revolts on winter fuel, planning reform, Grangemouth and the welfare changes. Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin have all lost their trade envoy roles too. Many of the MPs who have been cast adrift are from the new intake, and so today we are joined on the podcast by Mike Tapp, MP for Dover and Deal, to give his reflections on a year in office. On the podcast: he offers James Heale his advice on stopping the boats; details how Labour can start to deliver tangible change for people in constituencies much like his own; explains why Keir was right to suspend his fellow MPs; and gives us an insight into the future Labour stars from the new intake. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Emil Bove's confirmation hearing was a travesty
In The Godfather, a Mafia turncoat appears before a Senate committee in order to testify as a protected witness about its operations. Frank Pentangeli, 'Frankie Five Angels', a capo allied with the old godfather, Vito Corleone, has had a falling out with the new one, his son Michael Corleone, who attempted to assassinate him. As Pentangeli is about to speak at the hearing, he notices his brother Vincenzo, a mafioso from Sicily, seated behind him. Michael has arranged his grim looming presence. Pentangeli is suddenly reminded of his oath of omerta, the code of silence. He recants on the spot, saying that he just told the FBI 'what they wanted to hear'. On 25 June, Emil Bove, Donald Trump's former personal attorney, whom he had named associate deputy attorney general, and now after five months seeks to elevate as a federal judge on the US third circuit court of appeals, appeared before the Senate judiciary committee for his confirmation hearing. He faced, at least potentially, a far-ranging inquiry into his checkered career. There were charges of abusive behavior as an assistant US attorney. There was his role as enforcer of the alleged extortion of New York City Mayor Eric Adams to cooperate in the Trump administration's migrant roundups in exchange for dropping the federal corruption case against him. There was Bove's dismissal of FBI agents and prosecutors who investigated the January 6 insurrection. And there was more. On the eve of the hearing, the committee received a shocking letter from a whistleblower, a Department of Justice attorney, who claimed that Bove said, in response to a federal court ruling against the administration's immigration deportation policy: 'DoJ would need to consider telling the courts 'fuck you' and ignore any such order.' Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, the committee chairperson, the ancient mariner of the right wing at 91 years old, gaveled the session to order by invoking new rules never before used with a nominee in a confirmation hearing. Instead of opening the questioning to examine the nominee's past, he would thwart it. Grassley announced that Bove would be shielded by the 'deliberative-process privilege and attorney-client privilege' from 'an intense opposition campaign by my Democratic colleagues and by their media allies'. This was the unique imposition of a code of omerta. 'My understanding is that Congress has never accepted the constitutional validity of either such privilege,' objected Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island. 'This witness has no right to invoke that privilege,' said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut. But Grassley stonewalled. Prominently seated in the audience behind Bove were the US attorney general, Pam Bondi, and the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche. Never before had such top officials been present at a confirmation hearing for a judicial nominee. The federal government through the justice department would inevitably appear in cases before his court. The attorney general and her deputy created an immediate perception of conflict of interest, an ethical travesty. But Bondi and Blanche were not there to silence Bove. They were there to intimidate the Republican senators. If there were any dissenters among them, they knew that they would suffer retribution. 'Their being here is for one reason – to whip the Republicans into shape,' said Blumenthal. 'To make sure that they toe the line. They are watching.' The rise of Emil Bove is the story of how a lawyer from the ranks associated himself with Donald Trump, proved his unswerving loyalty to become a made man, and has been richly rewarded with a nomination for a lifetime federal judgeship, presumably to continue his service. In his opening statement, Bove said: 'I want to be clear about one thing up front: there is a wildly inaccurate caricature of me in the mainstream media. I'm not anybody's henchman. I'm not an enforcer.' Bove began his career as a paralegal and then a prosecutor in the US attorney's office for the southern district of New York. He was known for his attention to detail, relentlessness and sharp elbows. Seeking a promotion to supervisor, a group of defense attorneys including some who had been prosecutors in his office wrote a letter claiming he had 'deployed questionable tactics, including threatening defendants with increasingly severe charges the lawyers believed he couldn't prove', according to Politico. Bove posted the letter in his office to display his contempt. He was denied the promotion, but eventually received it. As a supervisor, Bove was known as angry, belittling and difficult. He developed an abrasive relationship with FBI agents. After complaints, an executive committee in the US attorney's office investigated and suggested he be demoted. He pleaded he would exercise more self-control and was allowed to remain in his post. 'You are aware of this inquiry and their recommendation?' Senator Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, asked Bove about the incident. Bove replied: 'As well as the fact that I was not removed.' In 2021, in the prosecution of an individual accused of evading sanctions on Iran, a team Bove supervised as the unit chief won a jury verdict. But then the US attorney's office discovered the case was 'marred by repeated failures to disclose exculpatory evidence and misuse of search-warrant returns' by the prosecutors handling the case, according to the judge. Declaring that 'errors and ethical lapses in this case are pervasive', she vacated the verdict and dismissed the charges as well as chastising those prosecutors for falling short of their 'constitutional and ethical obligations' in 'this unfortunate chapter' and criticizing Bove for providing sufficient supervision to prevent those failures. Bove became a private attorney, joining the law firm of Todd Blanche, whom Trump hired in 2023 to defend him in the New York case involving his payment of hush-money to the adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Blanche brought Bove along as his second chair. The qualities that made him a black sheep in the US attorney's office recommended him to Blanche and his client. In Bove's questioning of David Pecker, publisher of the National Enquirer, about his payments to women in his 'catch-and-kill' scheme to protect Trump, Bove twice botched the presentation of evidence, was admonished by the judge and apologized. Trump was convicted of 34 felonies of financial fraud to subvert an election. Upon Trump's election, he appointed Bove as acting deputy attorney general and then associate deputy once Todd Blanche was confirmed as deputy, reuniting the law partners, both Trump defense attorneys now resuming that role in an official capacity. On 31 January, Bove sent two memos, the first firing dozens of justice department prosecutors and the second firing FBI agents who had worked on the cases of January 6 insurrectionists, whom Trump pardoned on his inauguration day. Bove quoted Trump that their convictions were 'a grave national injustice'. He also had his own history of conflict with fellow prosecutors and FBI agents. Asked about his actions by Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, Bove presented himself as even-handed. 'I did and continue to condemn unlawful behavior, particularly violence against law enforcement,' he said. 'At the same time, I condemn heavy-handed and unnecessary tactics by prosecutors and agents.' Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion In February, Bove played a principal role in filing criminal charges claiming corruption in the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The head of the criminal division at the US attorney's office of the District of Columbia, Denise Cheung, believing there was no factual basis to the accusation, resigned with a statement praising those who are 'following the facts and the law and complying with our moral, ethical and legal obligations'. When Whitehouse sought to ask Bove about the episode, Bove replied: 'My answer is limited to: 'I participated in the matter.'' Whitehouse turned to Grassley. 'Do you see my point now?' he said. The code of omerta was working to frustrate questioning. Bove also deflected questions about his central role in the dropping of charges against Eric Adams. The acting US attorney for the southern district of New York, Danielle Sassoon, had resigned in protest, writing in a letter that Bove's memo directing her to dismiss the charges had 'nothing to do with the strength of the case'. She noted that in the meeting to fix 'what amounted to a quid pro quo … Mr Bove admonished a member of my team who took notes during that meeting and directed the collection of those notes at the meeting's conclusion.' Questioned about the Adams scandal, Bove denied any wrongdoing. Senator John A Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, played his helpmate. He asked Bove to 'swear to your higher being' that there was no quid pro quo. 'Absolutely not,' Bove said. 'Do you swear on your higher being?' 'On every bone in my body,' Bove replied. Hallelujah! Then Bove was asked about the letter sent by former justice department lawyer Erez Reuveni alleging that Bove planned the defiance of court rulings against the administration's deportation policy. 'I have never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order,' Bove said. Senator Adam Schiff, Democrat of California, repeatedly asked him if it was true he had said 'fuck you' as his suggested plan of action against adverse court decisions. Bove hemmed and hawed, and finally said: 'I don't recall.' Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, remarked: 'I am hoping more evidence is going to come out that shows that you lied before this committee.' Grassley, however, succeeded in protecting Bove. Bondi and Blanche stared down the Republican senators whose majority can put Bove on the bench. He is Trump's model appointment of what he wants in a judge. In announcing his nomination, Trump tweeted: 'Emil Bove will never let you down!' In another scene in The Godfather, Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozzo, another Mafia boss, comes to Vito Corleone, offering a deal to cut him in on the narcotics trade. 'I need, Don Corleone,' he says, 'those judges that you carry in your pockets like so many nickels and dimes.' It was an offer that the Godfather refused. He left the drugs, but kept the judges. Sidney Blumenthal, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published three books of a projected five-volume political life of Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man, Wrestling With His Angel and All the Powers of Earth. He is a Guardian US columnist and co-host of The Court of History podcast
AllAfrica
20-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
How China got the US over a rare earth barrel
Who's gonna tell you when it's too late? Who's gonna tell you things aren't so great? You can't go on, thinking nothing's wrong, but now Who's gonna drive you home tonight? – The Cars 'Just when I thought I was out,' Michael Corleone lamented, 'They pull me back in.' This column was originally intended to be about the lamentable state of America's rare earths dependency and how decades of delusional thinking – 'Rare earths are not rare!', 'We taught China rare earth processing!' – led to the current predicament. But who cares about rare earths now; the Middle East is once again a conflagration likely to ruin all of US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby's best-laid pivot to Asia plans whether President Donald Trump drops that 30,000-pound bomb on Iran or not. The Persian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean will tie down US naval assets for another decade. Michael Corleone's fatal flaw was that he did not understand what business he was in. He was a gangster, and there is no escape from murder, death and ruin in that line of work. Karma came for Philip Tattaglia, Barzini, Cuneo, Stracci, Moe Green and Hyman Roth. Why would it be any different for Michael and the Corleone family? Since the end of World War II, the United States has run a maritime empire and there is no escape from entanglement, overstretch and ruin in that line of work. Karma came for the Minoans, Phoenicians, Italian merchant states, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, British and Japanese empires. Why would it be any different for America? The reason the US is dependent on China for rare earth elements is that ores with extractable concentrations are, in fact, rare and processing these ores into usable concentrates is, in fact, incredibly difficult. The purpose of maritime empires is to harvest wealth from far-flung imperial possessions – or, more palatably, a rules-based international order. This need not be as self-serving as it sounds. Japan was allowed to have a very nice four-decade-long run between 1945 and 1985. Europe got the Marshall Plan and eight decades of security, allowing the old country (literally) to fund generous pension and welfare programs. Nixon's rapprochement with Mao removed the US Seventh Fleet as a Pacific threat, paving the way for China's coastal industrialization. In return, the US got decades of Middle Eastern oil arguably for free (crude oil paid for in dollars recycled into US investments). America also got manufactured goods from Asia and Europe on the same trade and creamed off the best and brightest from all corners of the world to become the empire's minions. All of the above should be grounds for celebration. It's all America could have asked for as a maritime empire. And yet, we are all familiar with the downsides. Maritime empires contain the seeds of their own destruction, magnifying capitalism's iniquities as wealth concentrates in ever fewer hands. Karl Marx wrote 'Das Kapital'at the height of the British Empire, showcasing brutal exploitation in Britain's own factories. The Trump presidency (both terms) is a reaction to America's neglected working class. The reason the US is dependent on China for rare earth elements is because processing technology has advanced multiple generations in the past two decades. The majority of the world's rare earths are now processed in Baotou Inner Mongolia, largely using third-generation sulfuric acid roasting technology, having long ago abandoned polluting in-situ leaching. Because of unavoidable foreign entanglements, maritime empires are not able to enjoy what should be a major perk of hegemony – to not have to expend resources on the military. The spoils of maritime empires can only be collected with expensive navies and far-flung bases if not occasional (perhaps continual) spillage of blood. And America's collected spoils have, of late, not been well distributed among the citizenry, particularly among those asked to do the bleeding. Mischief is irresistible for empires with forward-deployed militaries. The US has conducted about 200 military interventions since the end of WWII, 50 since the end of the Cold War. The most significant of these have been abject disasters – Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan – draining the empire of blood, treasure, domestic vitality and international goodwill. Mischief is once again at work, enticing America back into the Middle East just a few short years after humiliatingly crashing out of Afghanistan. America's pivot to Asia will never happen, just like Michael Corleone could never extricate the family business from its criminal past. The empire has collected too many barnacles. This is the exact opposite of the domino theory. It does not get easier. At some point, foreign entanglements stop benefiting the empire and become, at best, leeches and, at worst, ruinous distractions. The US, bled dry by two decades of never-ending wars, can only pivot to Asia by abandoning the Middle East and Ukraine. But like bickering concubines, manipulative allies conspire for the emperor's favor. In every stable of concubines, there is always a favorite who outmaneuvers the rest and imposes her will on a besotted emperor. America's Wu Zetian just unleashed a surprise attack on Iran demanding the emperor's total attention, leaving beautiful, faithful, innocent and delicate Taiwan to twist in the wind. The US is dependent on China for rare earth elements because rare earth chemistry programs are offered at dozens of Chinese universities versus none in the US. China has produced over 50,000 rare earth patents in the past two decades versus a de minimis number anywhere else. Cutting-edge science in the field is published in a handful of dedicated Chinese rare earth journals. China does not do foreign entanglements. Historically, China expanded organically by incorporating different polities into the Chinese state. That is what makes China China. Unlike maritime empires, the entire purpose of the Chinese state is to harness the major perk of hegemony– not having to waste resources on the military and, instead, deploy them on public works projects, from Yellow River dykes to high-speed rail. In the early 15th century, after commissioning seven magnificent imperial treasure voyages over three decades, reaching as far west as the east coast of Africa and establishing China as the world's pre-eminent seafaring nation, the Ming Dynasty court suddenly turned its back on maritime power. Historians have asked why ever since. Whether it was economics, Confucian conservatism or banal power struggles, abandoning maritime power set China up for European and Japanese predation in the 19th and 20th centuries. In a full accounting of history, maritime empires have not fared much better. Competition for overseas assets led to the slaughter of two World Wars, immolating much of Europe's accumulated wealth. Imperial possessions, acquired over a span of four centuries, evaporated in the blink of a few decades. The reason the US is dependent on China for rare earth elements is because of a maddening inability to concentrate. The US has known of its risky reliance on China for rare earths for two decades. In 2010, China weaponized its rare earth stranglehold on Japan during an East China Sea border dispute. In 2019, after President Trump launched a trade and tech war, China State Television not so subtly broadcast President Xi Jinping's visit to a rare earth processing plant. And somehow, in 2025, China has become an even more dominant supplier of rare earth elements. In all these instances, the exact same narratives were parroted by the English media – rare earths are not actually rare, China dominates rare earth processing because it is polluting, the US transferred rare earth processing technology to China. These shibboleths, which fall apart on close scrutiny, have tied America's hands for two decades. Halfhearted efforts to resolve the problem fell by the wayside when China refrained from pulling the rare earth trigger – until now, in 2025, when China is putting the squeeze on rare earth exports for military use just as strategic competition with the US is entering its most intense phase and right when conflicts in Israel and Ukraine are consuming an inordinate amount of military hardware. Like Michael Corleone, the US tried to convince itself that it was in a different business. 'The Godfather' is a tragedy worthy of – and rhyming with – both 'Macbeth' and 'King Lear.' Michael was blinded by ambition, thought of himself as more than a gangster and ultimately brought ruin onto himself and the Corleone family. The US consciously chose to be a maritime empire, stationing troops in 800 bases across the world, and then convinced itself that it was more than just an extractive empire, above the nitty-gritty, dirty work of resource extraction and immune from manipulation by vassals. Let us hope that this does not end in a Godfather-esque tragedy.
