The editors of Bloomberg have noticed that the rich developed countries are united in their opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The rest of the world? Not so much. And they’re worried about it:
One aspect of the war in Ukraine demands much closer attention — the failure of the US and its rich-country friends to build strong partnerships with the developing world. Many governments in Africa, Latin America and Asia have distanced themselves from the allies’ response to Russia’s aggression. This is helping Moscow and does nothing to discourage other regimes with expansionist ambitions. The neglect that allowed it to happen was a serious error, and putting it right should be a high priority.
concluding:
To win better support from developing countries, on Russia and other matters as well, Western governments should, for a start, be less quick to admonish. Appeals to liberal values tend to fall flat with people who remember less principled Western interventions. Also, many see the war in Ukraine as a proxy fight between Moscow and Washington — one where they have little at stake. The remedy is to frame the conflict not as punishing Russia and its autocratic leader, but as aiding Ukraine’s fight for self-determination. A powerful nation started this war by scorning sovereign borders: That’s a threat all can recognize.
Here’s another. A prolonged war will keep food, energy and fertilizer prices elevated, and this puts poor countries, with fewer resources to buffer the impact, in particular danger. It makes sense for the allies to say so, but their warning will get a better response if combined with prompt and generous support for the countries worst affected and most in need. Looking farther ahead, new efforts to address deeper economic vulnerabilities — for instance, by supporting African agriculture and logistics — would serve the diplomatic purpose and help deliver longer-term prosperity.
I don’t think the problem is “American inattention” as the editors aver. I think that most of the world prefers American inattention over the interventionist America that has been front and center for the last 30 years. Most of the world thinks that America is more of a threat to them than Russia is and they’re right.
“Most of the world thinks that America is more of a threat to them than Russia is and they’re right.”
With good reason. Almost every war fought since the fall of the USSR has been initiated by the US, and always against a country that was at peace with the US and its allies. The US even had its fingers in the Georgian and Ukrainian wars and in the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The Libyan war was particularly egregious in its unmitigated evil.
I suppose we didn’t cause the Rwandan genocide.
But it is not just the last 30 years. The US has been an aggressor since at least the Mexican War. Some people argue that the North was the aggressor in the Civil War. I’ll set that one aside.
Of course, the Indian Wars that raged from the early 1600’s the early 1900’s are another issue. Then there was the Moro uprising in the Philippines.
Some people argue that the strain of violence that runs through American history is the Puritan ideology of self-righteousness, Holier-than-Thou arrogance, and the demand for the submission of evil people to God’s Elect. I grew up in Massachusetts and was educated in its schools. Kids used to get a heavy dose of Colonial History, with emphasis on the Puritan theocracies. The Puritans relabelled themselves as Congregationalists, but they are the true ideological descendants of Cotton Mather, famous for the Salem witch trials. And they are the inspiration for American foreign and military policy.
If you are close to Russia they are a much bigger threat. That is why all of those former soviet countries asked to join NATO and looking at Ukraine it looks as though they were correct.
Steve
So depressing to see the Russian
strategy in the Ukraine.
First they sent in mercenaries and Chechens who had no qualms committing murder.
Then pulled them back so the Ukrainians could return and witness the horror inflicted on their families.
Next they send in nearly helpless Russian conscripts to suffer the Ukrainians wrath.
Then they sent in Russian regulars to witness the slaughter.
And just like that, peoples with no animosity are at each other’s throats so that Putins name lies next to Stalin in history books.
We are a pitiful species indeed.
Until I read Bob’s comment I hadn’t realized the US invaded Poland, attacked Pearl Harbor or demanded that Hussein invade Kuwait.
I’m no interventionist or disciple of spreading democracy to corrupt or crazy nations, who will of course see the light. But it seems awfully simplistic to blame all things on the US with so many despots in the world.
I think Steve makes the correct point on Russia proximate countries. We just need to charge them a fair rate. I wonder if Obama and HRC want the reset button back. No I don’t. They are horrible people.