{"id":312347,"date":"2026-02-02T12:00:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T12:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=312347"},"modified":"2026-02-16T13:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T13:34:48","slug":"resist-and-build-alternatives-to-the-trump-regime-now-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2026\/02\/resist-and-build-alternatives-to-the-trump-regime-now-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Resist and Build Alternatives to the Trump Regime Now (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

PART 1 \u2014 Media, Culture and Information Sovereignty<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

20 Jan 2026\u00a0<\/em>–\u00a0This is the first of 4+1 TFF-created idea portfolios designed to curb the global reach of the United States and, in both the short and long term, help catalyse a worldwide nonviolent resistance to what many observers describe as the Trump administration\u2019s uniquely confrontational, destructive and world-threatening policies.<\/p>\n

These portfolios outline what governments and citizens across the world can do<\/em> through dynamic diplomacy, creative initiatives, and strictly nonviolent means.<\/em><\/p>\n

It seems painfully clear to me that the current political dynamics in Washington increasingly resemble the most dangerous pattern that ended in 1945 and was supposed to never happen again.<\/em><\/p>\n

If that assessment holds, then passivity is no longer an option. A coordinated, global, nonviolent mobilisation is essential \u2014 not least because nonviolence is the one type of power and language a heavily militarised superpower is least prepared to counter.<\/p>\n

All power rests on others accepting and carrying out its orders. Even the strongest leader in the world cannot round up criminals or fight wars with his own hands. Power is always dependent <\/em>\u2013 dependent on someone who finds it legitimate, and do the dirty job on the strongman\u2019s order. If young people were not brainwashed to accept warfare, there would be no wars. This is why nonviolence can be extremely effective and make an overarmed country look morally weak. That\u2019s what Gandhi taught the world when using this theory to rid India not of the British as people but of the British Empire\u2019s dominance structure.<\/p>\n

The global mobilisation suggested here and in three coming thematic peace idea portfolios<\/em> would also allow the rest of the world to deprive Trump of setting the international agenda. When Trump says something crazy, geopolitical experts, the media and the rest of the world, it seems, scrutinise his words in minute detail and waste all the time and energy that should be devoted to constructive alternatives and action.<\/p>\n

If all this sounds \u201cunrealistic,\u201d<\/em> consider the alternative: a world in which Trump\u2019s Personal Occidental Empire<\/em> is allowed to take shape \u2014 one that intimidates, coerces, and disregards established norms, continuing unchecked for the next three years as it has begun.<\/p>\n

The proposals in this first portfolio are not limited to preventing the attempted acquisition of Greenland, though Greenland naturally occupies a central place here. Many fear that, without meaningful global resistance, such an acquisition could be carried out with little more than verbal protest from the international community \u2014 emboldening further unilateral ventures.<\/p>\n

Think also of the so-called Gaza Peace Board<\/a> that does not even mention Gaza. It is a cynical vehicle for establishing a new, personalised global \u201cpeace\u201d structure intended to replace the United Nations with Trump himself as lifetime leader and the man who appoints his successor. Further, it is built on money, deals, and favours.<\/p>\n

Only fools believe this is anything but Empire-building disguised as peace-making<\/em>. Beyond any doubt, it is world-threatening.<\/p>\n

It should now be evident that the ability to shape global perceptions \u2014 to persuade people of the inherent benevolence of U.S. power and of the current administration in particular \u2014 relies heavily on information dominance:<\/em> narratives, propaganda, disinformation, and outright falsehoods. The Greenland argument, framed as a defensive move against China\u2019s and Russia\u2019s intention to take it, is one such example. It is also a psycho-political projection of the US\/Trump\u2019s own dark sides.<\/em><\/p>\n

For these reasons, curbing U.S. information power is essential, <\/em>as is countering its cultural and intellectual influence platforms. Therefore, this first Nonviolent U.S. Resistance Portfolio focuses on these domains. The succeeding portfolios will address additional forms of power that must be challenged and replaced through peaceful, principled means.<\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/p>\n

A. Media Transparency & Accountability Measures<\/strong><\/h2>\n

These don\u2019t censor anything, they expose dependency and deception and aim at creating an alternative global information and media structure after the US monopoly.<\/em><\/p>\n

Immediate Measures (within a week)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mandatory disclosure labels<\/strong>
\nEvery news story must state the origin of its primary source (AP, Reuters, AFP, NYT, etc.). This alone would shock audiences into seeing how much comes from U.S. pipelines.<\/p>\n

Publish a \u201cMedia Dependency Index\u201d<\/strong>
\nA weekly ranking of outlets by percentage of U.S.-sourced content.<\/p>\n

Announce parliamentary hearings<\/strong>
\nTransparent, non-accusatory hearings on foreign influence in national media ecosystems.<\/p>\n

Longer-Term Measures<\/strong><\/h3>\n

European or Global South\u2013Europe newswire alliance<\/strong>
\nA structural alternative to U.S. news dominance.<\/p>\n

Media Sovereignty Observatory<\/strong>
\nA permanent body tracking narrative dependency and foreign influence.<\/p>\n

Open source, federated news distribution systems<\/strong>
\nInfrastructure that reduces reliance on U.S. platforms and algorithms. Boycott or at least reduce your reliance on US media platforms that censor and de-rank even peace voices and voices critical of the US, NATO, interventionism and genocide. That is \u2013 Google, Google-owned YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, X and more.<\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/p>\n

B. Diversification of Global News Inputs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Plurality of sources is the alternative to narrative dominance. Stop following mainstream Western media and follow non-Western media. The Internet is a wonderful invention.<\/em> Spend 75% of your media time on non-Western media online<\/em> or you will be fooled<\/em> about what the world actually looks like.<\/em><\/p>\n

Immediate Measures (within a week)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Emergency subscription packages to non-U.S. news agencies<\/strong>
\nAFP, Kyodo, Al Jazeera, African newswires, Chinese and Russian media \u2014 instant diversification. Use the internet and see everybody else\u2019s much more open-minded news coverage, editorials and discussions.<\/p>\n

Temporary European Arctic Correspondent Network<\/strong>
\nReporters in Nuuk, Reykjavik, Troms\u00f8 to counter U.S. framing of Greenland.<\/p>\n

Partnerships with Greenlandic media<\/strong>
\nEnsures that Greenlandic voices define Greenland\u2019s story and are heard worldwide.<\/p>\n

Longer-Term Measures<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Permanent European Arctic Desk<\/strong>
\nA sustained reporting presence across the Arctic region. It may be more important to have them there in the future than all over the West itself.<\/p>\n

Support for Indigenous media networks<\/strong>
\nStrengthening local voices across the Arctic and beyond.<\/p>\n

Cross-regional multilingual reporting hubs<\/strong>
\nShared editorial teams linking Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.<\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/p>\n

C. Citizens\u2019 Media Resistance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Citizens can shift the media ecosystem faster than governments.<\/em><\/p>\n

Immediate Measures (within a week)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Boycott outlets with >40% U.S. newswire dependency<\/strong>
\nA voluntary, global, nonviolent pressure tool.<\/p>\n

\u201cSwitch Off America Week\u201d<\/strong>
\nA symbolic week where citizens consume only non-U.S. news.<\/p>\n

Crowdsourced monitoring of U.S. narrative dominance<\/strong>
\nPublicly track how often outlets rely on U.S. sources (and tell you they are free, diverse and public service\u2026<\/p>\n

Longer-Term Measures<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Global media literacy networks<\/strong>
\nTeaching citizens how narratives are constructed and by whom. And use existing non-Western ones.<\/p>\n

Public Sphere Charter<\/strong>
\nA global commitment to pluralistic information flows.<\/p>\n

Global public-interest search engine<\/strong>
\nA non-corporate, non-U.S. alternative for accessing information.<\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/p>\n

D. Cultural & Academic Sovereignty<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cultural exchange must be mutual, not a one-way projection of power and a de facto grooming of pro-US personalities and murky associations.<\/em><\/p>\n

Immediate Measures (within a week)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Pause new academic partnerships with U.S. institutions<\/strong>
\nA cooling-off period to reassess influence.<\/p>\n

Suspend U.S.\u2013EU cultural festivals<\/strong> and cultural cooperation<\/strong>
\nA symbolic but powerful signal of recalibration. Of course, you can enjoy the incredible works of US cultural workers over time, but stop formalised cooperation.<\/p>\n

Prioritise Indigenous Greenlandic cultural voices.<\/strong>
\nShift the cultural centre of gravity toward those directly affected.<\/p>\n

Longer-Term Measures<\/strong><\/h3>\n

EU\u2013Global South academic networks<\/strong>
\nDiversifying knowledge production beyond U.S. institutions. Send your students to up-and-coming countries, not to the declining US. Stop filling you university reading lists with US literature; these books silently convey only a US perspective on the world.<\/p>\n

European Arctic Cultural Institute<\/strong>
\nA hub for Greenlandic and Arctic cultural expression.<\/p>\n

Ethical guidelines for cultural diplomacy<\/strong>
\nEnsuring reciprocity and preventing one-way influence.<\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/p>\n

E. Public Sphere & Civil Society Mobilisation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Nonviolent resistance begins with public consciousness<\/em> and challenges military arrogance with countermeasures that set a constructive agenda.<\/em><\/p>\n

Immediate Measures (within a week)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Global demonstrations at U.S. embassies<\/strong>
\nA peaceful, visible expression of global resistance: Enough is more than enough, Trump!<\/p>\n

\u201cGreenland Solidarity Week\u201d<\/strong>
\nEvents in 100+ cities to raise awareness.<\/p>\n

People\u2019s Tribunal on violations of international law<\/strong>
\nA moral forum documenting actions and giving voice to the affected.<\/p>\n

Longer-Term Measures<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Documentary series (\u201cGreenland And Arctic Reality Check\u201d)<\/strong>
\nA sustained narrative counter-campaign.<\/p>\n

Global civil society coalitions<\/strong>
\nNetworks linking NGOs, Indigenous groups, and peace organisations, for instanced the global movement against US bases in 130 countries.<\/p>\n

World Forum on Nonviolent Power<\/strong>
\nA permanent platform for developing peaceful resistance strategies. There is a desperate need for solution-oriented thinking and global peace visions, for pro-peace and not just anti-war.<\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/p>\n

PART 1 SUMMARY<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Media and cultural sovereignty are the foundations of nonviolent resistance. Massive, immediate actions worldwide can disrupt narrative dominance within days; long-term measures build a pluralistic global information order in which no single state monopolises the definition of reality for the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

__________________________________________<\/em><\/p>\n

READ: <\/strong>INTRO<\/strong><\/a> –<\/strong>\u00a0PART 2<\/a> – PART 3<\/a> – PART 4 – PART 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Prof. Jan Oberg, Ph.D. is director of the independent <\/em>Transnational Foundation for Peace & Future Research-TF<\/a>F<\/a> in Sweden and a member of the <\/em>TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment<\/a>. CV: <\/em>https:\/\/transnational.live\/jan-oberg<\/em><\/a>
\n<\/em>https:\/\/transnational.live<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Go to Original – thetransnational.substack.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

20 Jan 2026\u00a0–\u00a0Media, Culture and Information Sovereignty – This is the first of five idea portfolios designed to curb the global reach of the US and help catalyse a worldwide nonviolent resistance to the Trump administration\u2019s confrontational, destructive and world-threatening policies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":312348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[3143,2642,2394,290,1017,234,1243,249,2200,70],"class_list":["post-312347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anglo-america","tag-anti-hegemony","tag-anti-imperialism","tag-civil-resistance","tag-culture","tag-freedom-of-information","tag-media","tag-nonviolent-action","tag-trump","tag-us-empire","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=312347"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":313328,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312347\/revisions\/313328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=312347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=312347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}