Why Western leftists induce distrust, even suspicion, in our societies

Congratulating Donald Trump on his recent re-election as president of the US in a post on X (Twitter), President Kagame wrote, among other things, “Your clear message has been that the United States should be a partner of choice that attracts by the force of its example, rather than by imposing its views and ways of life on others.” It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to know what the President, or the many other non-Western leaders that equally warmly congratulated Trump, were alluding to. It is a certain tendency in Western (notably leftist) politics that has long taken it upon itself to meddle in the affairs of the poorer countries of the world, known in geopolitical terms as the Global South, to foist upon them Western, Eurocentric ways in every domain of life – political, cultural, spiritual, pretty much everything. To go back, this started the very first time European colonialism ravaged the global south, with so-called civilising missions “to bring Christianity to these lands, and turn the savages from their pagan, barbaric ways.” Usually, after the natives of the lands were suitably subdued, they then were taught the languages of the white man; instructed in the ways of the white man; trained to obey the white man. Meantime, the white man was busy enslaving the natives – in colonies run with an iron hand by the government of the white man overseas – which ferried away their wealth, obtained by the backbreaking labour of the native. Colonialism came to an end however, when the natives all over the colonised lands began staging uprisings, revolts, riots, and protests, demanding the white man pack up and go back where they came from. Muzungu Arudi Ungereza MwAfirika Apate Uhuru! After some bloody struggles for independence, the white man saw the writing on the wall. Colonialism in the aftermath of World War II no longer was possible. It no longer was sustainable for a Europe that reeled from the terrible losses inflicted by its own wars. One by one, European governments acquiesced to the demands for self-rule, giving the natives their lands back. But even as they left, they were crafting ways they would maintain control of those lands: their politics, their socio-economic institutions, their raw materials, means of production – part of a new reality for which Kwame Nkrumah coined the term “neo-colonialism.” In those times, Western leftists were some of the most vocal supporters of independence for Africans and other subjugated peoples. They were Africa’s great allies, staging protests, writing pamphlets, decrying the evils of imperialism, demanding immediate freedom for Africa! But today? Leftist groups and the causes they espouse together with the institutions they champion, have morphed into very willing tools, knowingly or not, of neo-colonial control of Africa. They, more than any other groups long ago set up institutions – many imbued with noble-sounding ideals – whose mission is to lecture, hector, or moralise to societies of the global south into compliance to Western ways Africans, or other people of global south countries, see this neo-colonial behaviour in the activities of pressure groups self-appointed as the arbiters of human rights. CEOs of such groups, a type most embodied by Ken Roth formerly of Human Rights Watch, will arrogantly insult African leaders, and call them names none of which they would ever do against a Western head of state. They demand answers in the most condescending ways, write bullying reports, issue condemnations, demand sanctions. Citizens of the global south see more of this neo-colonial behaviour in the words and deeds of self-appointed arbiters of political freedoms, who only ever issue scathing condemnations against only those governments that appear to assert their own ideas, sourced from their own societies, how best to run their own political affairs. These (overseas pressure groups) want Western-style pluralist politics, practised to the letter, and nothing else! Failure in even one aspect of that means very dire reports will follow, of “a society that’s unfree and draconian” – regardless whether practising Western pluralist style politics (to the letter) might in fact lead to real calamity. History and context matter very little. The fact that societies evolve differently, in ways that reflect their different realities, is something to be brushed aside. More of the neo-colonial behaviour of Western leftist groups or causes will be seen in the activities of international criminal tribunals that supposedly are created to deter serious atrocities and all sorts of human rights abuses in conflict or war situations, which end up jailing only African suspects. Even when many non-Africans will be suspected of committing far worse crimes. And so, Africans, and almost all none-Western societies have developed deep suspicion and mistrust of much that’s associated with Western leftist groups. No one likes to be lectured, and called names, and told to do this, or do that!, however poor, or whatever the circumstances they find themselves in. Which is why so many people of the global south are much warmer to rightwing groups, and will genuinely applaud a victory such as the Republicans’ in the just ended US elections.

Opinions

Why Western leftists induce distrust, even suspicion, in our societies