Imperialism as democracy promotion. posted by Richard Seymour

Post by johng:

The massive deployment of violence by western powers, directly or by proxy, often directed at whole populations, in order to restructure regional politics to suit the interests of those same western powers, is frequently confused with democracy - otherwise known as ‘the new middle east’ that will ‘prevail’. It is democratic presumably because those directing the violence against states, societies and whole populations are democracies, and it is ‘new’ because previously the use of such violence was regarded as the exception rather then the norm. Those who are opposed to the massive deployment of violence by western powers, directly or by proxy, in order to restructure regional politics to suit the interests of those same western powers, and indeed support the right of those inhabiting the region to defend themselves against this violence and indeed the consequences of such violence, are frequently accused of following the logic of ‘my enemies enemy is my friend’ for reasons quite mysterious to me. (A young Lebanese woman from the south who had recently witnessed her husband and one of her children killed demands that the world intervene before wondering aloud whether the world wanted to make Lebanon like Iraq, clearly a terrible fate for any society however desperate its circumstances).

It seems that opposing the massive deployment of violence by western powers cannot be a principled position and neither can the idea that societies and countries confronted with this kind of violence have a right to defend themselves, whatever their politics or the nature of their regimes. The left has always understood that these things are principles and it’s hard to fathom or make sense of the politics of those who have so comprehensively dropped these principles: with no explanation whatever. If anyone thought that the ‘new middle east’ had anything to do with democracy, or indeed ‘newness’ they might be puzzled by the alliances that the US has in mind in the region. There is something terribly familiar about what is beginning to unfold. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt are apparently worried about ‘stability’ and the US believes they are more frightened of radicals then they are of Israel. This is a pretty good bet on past performances. The Saudis have apparently been joking about how they and Israel have always been on the same side whether over Nasser or indeed the Iranian revolution, but then the Saudis are so openly corrupt and vulpine that this statement is hardly surprising. Think of these regimes and what they represent. Now think back to all the brave talk about a paradigm shift in US foreign policy (lets not bother with British talk: lets ‘please be serious’). Apparently making ‘stability’ the cornerstone of policy had always been a mistake. We were assured that insofar as one could talk of ‘root causes’ the absence of democracy was one, and this would be rectified. No more would the US (always the most important state in the region even if not geographically located there) cosy up to dictatorships in order to protect its interests.

This apparent shift caused considerable confusion in what might be called the ‘Western mind’ which tended to believe there was something democratic, moderate even, about states which the US was an ally of. But these confusions were to be cleared away. ‘Let it rip and consequences be damned’ was the cheerful public line, and indeed all those who opposed such talk were accused of being ‘conservative’. How much has changed. It turns out that the only kind of democracy permitted is that associated with massive deployment of violence by western powers, and that which does not interfere with the stability of those great representatives of democracy: Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. Indeed the whole diplomatic policy of the US (insofar as such a thing can be said to exist anymore as representatives of these unsavoury regimes scurry to Rome lest inviting the unloved American bombers to their country should prove the final straw for their repressed populations) is based on currying favour with these dreadful, decayed regimes and apparently, hoping that a bit of sectarianism about the Shi’a might help keep Iran isolated. This is what the new Middle East spearheaded by the US and Israel looks like. Hmmm. Enemies enemy is my friend? It seems to me it’s supporters of the US who have a bit of explaining to do. Those of us who remained consistent in our politics have to just get on with opposing the politics of a rather traditional kind called Imperialism.