Simone Lawson
Dead cat diplomacy is a political strategy used to divert media attention from a different issue or failure. The term was first used by former US Secretary of State James Baker to describe his threats to blame a disputant for failing the process, using the metaphor of laying a dead cat at their doorstep. This strategy has been used by many politicians, including Boris Johnson, who wrote about the dead cat in a 2013 column for The Telegraph, and Donald Trump, who was accused of criticising the cast of Hamilton in 2016 to distract from a legal settlement. Dead cat diplomacy is considered a manipulative tactic that leverages blame and coercion to influence public opinion and negotiate with opposing parties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Political strategy |
| Usage | Used to divert media attention from problems or failures in other areas |
| Users | Politicians, key decision-makers |
| Origin | Coined by US Secretary of State James Baker |
| Synonyms | Dead cat strategy, deadcatting, throwing a dead cat on the table |
| Examples | Donald Trump's criticism of the cast of Hamilton, Boris Johnson's Rwanda Plan |
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What You'll Learn
- Dead cat diplomacy is a term coined by former US Secretary of State James Baker
- It is used to divert media attention from problems or failures in other areas
- Dead cat diplomacy is a tactic used to lay the blame at the opposing party's feet
- Dead cat diplomacy is a manipulative strategy used as a last resort
- Dead cat diplomacy is a form of political cynicism and nihilistic warmongering
Dead cat diplomacy is a term coined by former US Secretary of State James Baker
The term "dead cat diplomacy" was first used by Baker during his mediation efforts in the Middle East following the 1991 Gulf War. He was struggling to persuade disillusioned Arab leaders to attend the Madrid Peace Conference with Israel, and he felt that this strategy was his only leverage in the situation. By using dead cat diplomacy, Baker was able to shift the focus of the negotiations and successfully coerce the Arabs into conceding to Israel. This strategy has since been employed by other American politicians, becoming the "strategy of choice" at the negotiating table.
The metaphor behind dead cat diplomacy is that of throwing a dead cat onto a dining room table. This action is sure to shock and outrage those present, and they will inevitably exclaim, "Jeez, mate, there's a dead cat on the table!". In other words, they will be talking about the dead cat and not the issue that was previously causing grief. This is the essence of dead cat diplomacy: to divert attention away from a failing argument or an inconvenient truth by introducing a shocking or surprising new element.
While dead cat diplomacy can be an effective strategy for negotiators and politicians, it has been criticised as a form of manipulation and a distraction from the real issues. In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the true intentions behind such tactics, and they may not be as effective as they once were. Additionally, the use of dead cat diplomacy may backfire if the targeted disputant's bargaining capacity is not limited, as they may call the bluff and calculate that maintaining their stance is more beneficial than acquiescing to the threat.
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It is used to divert media attention from problems or failures in other areas
The dead cat strategy, also known as deadcatting, is a political strategy used to divert media attention from problems or failures in other areas. The term was first used by former British prime minister Boris Johnson in a 2013 column for The Telegraph, in which he described it as an Australian political strategy. Johnson wrote that when "the facts are overwhelmingly against you, and the more people focus on the reality the worse it is for you and your case", the best solution is to throw "a dead cat on the dining room table".
The idea is that, regardless of the outrage, alarm, or disgust that may be caused, people will inevitably be talking about the dead cat and not the issue that was causing so much grief. Johnson's campaign manager during the 2008 and 2012 London mayoral elections, Australian Lynton Crosby, is thought to be the "Australian friend" referred to in Johnson's column.
An example of dead cat diplomacy in action is when Donald Trump was accused of criticising the cast of Hamilton to distract from a legal settlement, with CNN calling this "a particularly malodorous dead cat". Similarly, in 2021, footage was released of senior Downing Street staff joking about an illegal Christmas party during lockdown. Within 48 hours, headlines were focused on Johnson's Rwanda Plan, which was seen as a distraction from the scandal.
Dead cat diplomacy has also been used in international mediation, with the term "dead cat diplomacy" coined by former US Secretary of State James Baker. Baker used the strategy during his mediation efforts in the Middle East following the 1991 Gulf War. He threatened to publicly blame an intransigent party for failing the process, using the metaphor of laying a dead cat at their doorstep.
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Dead cat diplomacy is a tactic used to lay the blame at the opposing party's feet
Dead cat diplomacy is a political strategy used to divert media attention from a crisis or a failure. The term was first used by former US Secretary of State James Baker during his mediation efforts in the Middle East following the first Gulf War.
Baker employed this strategy to persuade the Arabs, Syrians, and Palestinians to attend the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference with Israel. He threatened to publicly blame an intransigent party for failing the process, using the metaphor of laying a dead cat at that party's doorstep so that everyone would know who was responsible. This strategy, also known as "deadcatting," involves making a shocking announcement or revelation to distract from the issue at hand.
In recent years, "dead cat diplomacy" has been used by politicians such as Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. Johnson, for example, employed this tactic when he announced his Rwanda Plan within 48 hours of being served a penalty notice for a rule-breaking event. Similarly, Trump was accused of using "dead cat diplomacy" when he criticized the cast of Hamilton to distract from a legal settlement.
The effectiveness of "dead cat diplomacy" relies on the public's attention being diverted from the main issue. It is often seen as a manipulative strategy, and its success depends on the mediator's power and the timing of the revelation.
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Dead cat diplomacy is a manipulative strategy used as a last resort
The dead cat strategy, also known as "throwing a dead cat on the table," is a political tactic to distract from an issue that is causing grief. The idea is that by throwing a dead cat on the table, people will be so shocked and outraged that they will talk about the dead cat instead of the original issue. This strategy has been associated with British former prime minister Boris Johnson and his political strategist Lynton Crosby. Johnson has employed this tactic on multiple occasions, such as when he announced his Rwanda Plan within 48 hours of being served a penalty notice for a rule-breaking event, and when he announced his intention to resign as prime minister amidst a government crisis.
The use of the dead cat strategy can be controversial and may backfire if it is seen as a cover-up or an attempt to manipulate public opinion. It is often used by unscrupulous individuals or organizations who are trying to avoid negative publicity. In addition, the strategy may not always be effective, as people may see through the attempt at distraction and continue to focus on the original issue.
Overall, dead cat diplomacy is a last-resort manipulative strategy used to lay the blame at the feet of an opposing party when negotiations are on the brink of collapse or have already failed. It is a coercive tool used to pressure the other party into acquiescence by threatening to publicly signal their intransigence.
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Dead cat diplomacy is a form of political cynicism and nihilistic warmongering
Dead cat diplomacy is a political strategy that involves deliberately making a shocking announcement to divert media attention away from problems or failures in other areas. It is a form of political cynicism and nihilistic warmongering, as it manipulates public opinion and leverages blame to achieve a particular outcome. This strategy is often employed by politicians and governments to distract from negative news or scandals, and it has been associated with figures such as Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.
The term "dead cat diplomacy" was coined by former US Secretary of State James Baker during his mediation efforts in the Middle East following the 1991 Gulf War. Baker described the strategy as threatening to publicly blame an intransigent party for failing the process, using the metaphor of laying a dead cat at their doorstep. This tactic was employed to pressure regional countries and present Israel as a victim, leveraging blame to force acquiescence.
The use of dead cat diplomacy has been criticised as cynical and manipulative. It is seen as a distraction tactic that prioritises political gain over truthful and peaceful conflict resolution. In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for example, dead cat diplomacy has been used to lay blame and derail diplomatic mediations rather than address the complex issues at hand.
Furthermore, dead cat diplomacy can be a form of nihilistic warmongering. The declaration of war on October 7, 2023, for instance, was characterised by unrealistic power projections, political and military logjams, and intentional politics of victimisation, with detrimental consequences for civilians in Gaza. The strategy leverages human shields and destructive warmongering to serve destructive power politics.
Overall, dead cat diplomacy is a controversial strategy that can distract from important issues, manipulate public opinion, and lead to detrimental consequences in sensitive diplomatic situations. It is a form of political cynicism and nihilistic warmongering that requires careful consideration and scrutiny.
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Frequently asked questions
Dead cat diplomacy is a political strategy of deliberately making a shocking statement or announcement to divert attention away from problems or failures in other areas.
The term was first used by former US Secretary of State James Baker during his mediation efforts in the Middle East following the first Gulf War.
The dead cat strategy, also known as deadcatting, is the act of throwing a "dead cat on the table" to divert attention from a problem or failure.
The dead cat strategy works by making a shocking statement or announcement that is so outrageous that people's attention is diverted from the original issue.
In 2016, Donald Trump was accused of criticising the cast of Hamilton to distract from a legal settlement. In 2022, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda following a rule-breaking event in the Cabinet Office.
