Engineering a New Solution

A recent article in the Economist examines the professional paths that lead to high-ranking political positions in different countries. Take China for example, where leaders tend to have an engineering background. This stands in contrast to the United States where law degrees are more common. So, why have engineers thrived in the upper echelons of politics in China but not the United States?  And what lessons can America learn about the evolution of political leadership from its eastern neighbor?

First, engineers have long held influence in China, more so than in the United States. For decades in the U.S., the majority of engineers have applied their talents to industry or business while avoiding government. To this day, many engineers believe they have little to contribute to political issues in America. Conversely, Chinese society has historically viewed engineering as a safe career and one of public importance—not surprising in a society that places great importance on math and science skills. Second, the way of thinking promoted in engineering fits in nicely with Chinese politics. Engineering promotes long-range thinking about problem solving. In China, where development is the priority, that type of thinking is important. Salesmanship and argumentation, concepts that are promoted in law, are secondary.

Politics and engineering, intuitively, seem to be a natural fit. The political entity’s main purpose is problem solving, be it in education, welfare, the budget, etc. Similarly, the purpose of applied engineering is problem solving. Engineers solve problems concerning projects using qualitative arguments.

The United States has many problems and challenges facing it today – social security, reforming the tax system, infrastructure development, education, national security. These challenges, if not properly dealt with, threaten to derail the stability and future of our country. What we need are solutions presented in a clear and concise manner with as little frill as possible. Those with an engineering background are well suited to the task of presenting such solutions. Yet, in Congress today there are only 11 engineers out of 535 total delegates. The Congress, and the USG as a whole, could benefit from an infusion of engineering talent. Perhaps more engineers could lead the United States to long-term thinking about addressing the many problems facing our nation.

On another note, today is my last day as an intern at GSI. Thank you to all the loyal readers and keep strategizing!