Ancient Wisdom for Modern Campaigns with Caitlin Huxley
As the sun sets in one era and rises in another, organizations and leaders increasingly turn to Sun Tzu's timeless teachings to navigate the complexities of modern political campaigns.
In the vast expanse of human history, certain voices echo through the ages, their wisdom transcending time and circumstance. Among these, the strategic insights of Sun Tzu , the ancient Chinese military philosopher, continue to captivate and guide.
With each word penned centuries ago, Sun Tzu offers military strategy and a profound understanding of human nature, conflict, and success. In this age of digital warfare and competitive political races, Sun Tzu's philosophy has never been more relevant or applicable.
Let us unpack the depths of ancient wisdom as we uncover Sun Tzu's invaluable lessons and explore their application in modern campaigns with Caitlin Huxley 's newest book, "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Campaigns: Lessons from Sun Tzu's Art of War."
Thomas McGregor: Firstly, thank you for taking the time to do this.
Caitlin Huxley: Of course!
TM: I want to focus on the intent and more profound philosophical implications of the modern political election landscape for this interview. What inspired you to do this project, and how do you see it applying to today's election and political landscape?
CH: Of course! I've been working in campaigns for quite a while, and I've seen candidates repeatedly run into some of the same problems. Additionally, I've read Sun Tzu's Art of War quite a few times and found it helpful in developing my own campaign strategies.
TM: Many operatives associate running campaigns with a "battle" or "war." Can you describe what connections you made between your years of campaign work and Sun Tzu's philosophies??
CH: When people hear about Sun Tzu, they assume the advice will be to swing a sword or something. But the advice inside is very practical. His work is unique (and timeless) because it focuses on the psychological aspect of warfare and strategy and the importance of "knowing yourself and your enemy." Additionally, the possibility of winning without fighting makes it hard for your opponents to get set up in the first place. He says at one point, "Let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns," which is the equivalent of today's "work smarter, not harder" - you shouldn't be running a campaign just to run, but instead as a way to be elected, or to achieve your goals.
TM: And which other, more specific examples can you highlight that have or will positively impact future campaigns that you undertake?
CH: To answer specific examples, I think we should begin at the beginning. Sun Tzu says that the general who wins makes many calculations before the battle, and the general who loses makes very few. It's not hard to draw a line between the advice "have a plan" and many of the candidates who, putting the cart before the horse, build out a campaign plan, raise money, knock on doors, and spend a lot of time and effort pushing for election day, only to be slaughtered because they forgot even to count the votes needed to win in their district.?
TM: This seems like a vitally crucial first step that needs to be addressed. Why do you think that is?
CH: There are a couple of reasons. The most common is the feeling that the current elected official doesn't represent some portion of the community in their district, and it has been a long time since anyone has challenged them. "Someone should do something" gets their blood boiling, and they pull the trigger before they know what they're doing. Of course, you and I know how to kick off a campaign, but we've done it 100 times. It's like being new to tennis, and in your excitement, you enter a local tournament. You have to focus on the fundamentals and the money to hire professionals to tell you what you're missing.
TM: So, in other words, get excited, but take a deep breath first?
CH: Well, yeah. It reminds me of another quote: "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of 1000 battles." This is really Sun Tzu saying, "Knowledge is power." If you don't know if someone in your party can win your district, then you never had a chance. But if you take the time to do your calculations first, you can ensure you only run when you know you can win.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” -Sun Tzu
TM: Would you also say that often, would-be candidates don’t know what success looks like but know they want to make an impact by becoming elected?
CH: This is exactly right. If you take the time to find out you can't be elected, you can come up with another definition of success in your race. Maybe you just wanted to raise awareness for an issue the incumbent is overlooking; perhaps you want to grow the local party infrastructure or build up a war chest for future runs, or maybe make the incumbent/his party spend some of their cash here, instead of donating it to the party to fight the top of the ticket race.
TM:? To that point, what lessons from Sun Tzu's philosophies can you connect or point to that resonate with "knowing what success looks like" or finding different paths for the same intent or outcome?
CH: For this, the candidate's job is to share his goals with his campaign manager and allow them to use their experience and expertise to define the best path. "In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign. Having collected an army, he must blend and harmonize the different elements thereof.” The campaign isn't a 1-man job. However, hiring staff is expensive, and the cost is the most common reason candidates try to do it alone.
TM: So, building your "forces," so to speak?
CH: Indeed, “He who wishes to fight must first count the cost.”
"In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” -Sun Tzu
TM: In closing, what insight do you hope students of your book take away most from it?
CH: A successful campaign hinges on three core principles: thorough analysis of the circumstances, meticulous strategic planning, and adaptability. This approach ensures that every decision is informed, every action is deliberate, and the strategy remains flexible to effectively navigate uncertainties.
TM: Great stuff, thank you! And thank you for taking the time today to speak to Policy Brief subscribers. With your insights and unique connections between ancient wisdom and modern campaigns, I truly hope to inspire and motivate new and seasoned campaign professionals and candidates to engage in effective efforts.?
CH: Thanks for having me! It was a fun book to write, and I love talking about it.