Beijing requires foreign investors in many industries to cooperate in joint ventures with Chinese partners, most of whom enjoy close ties to the government.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Trade as An Engine for Democracy in China: The Big Lie

When large banks used their close ties to the government to rescue them from their failure in the marketplace, the Tea Party movement rose up in anger.

FORBES: The Case for Tea Party Opposition to Software Patents

The US has despatched to Cairo a veteran diplomat with close ties to the Mubarak government.

BBC: Egypt unrest: John Kerry says Mubarak should step aside