“Wherever I go, I find myself confronted with the accusations of double standards,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at Oxford University in May. At last year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC), French President Emmanuel Macron said: “I am struck by how much we are losing the trust of the Global South.”
Eisentraut makes this clear in her brief: The criticism of Western double standards is often justified. For example, countries from the Global South point out that the US and other Western states insist on the principle of the territorial integrity in Ukraine, but did not respect this principle during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Western states have often disregarded human rights by carrying out illegal detentions as part of their war on terror. And the Europeans have made common cause with North African autocrats in order to prevent migration to Europe.
However, Eisentraut also points out that critics from countries such as China and Russia often use their accusations to relativize their own violations. Or they use them to justify an approach to foreign policy that is no longer based on moral principles at all, but only on their own interests. The result is that the value of universal rules is being questioned around the world.
Emmanuel Macron said: “I am struck by how much we are losing the trust of the Global South.”
I am struck by how dude does not understand who he is and what he represents.
Completely agree. He just needs to look within his own borders to see why. The Left Alliance scores the largest bloc of the election; then Macron spurns them and looks to the right for a Prime Minister instead. Are we really supposed to believe him when he says he’s shocked that people are losing faith in the system?
At this point, it’s hard to see how he can be this stupid. The man is a liar and always has been. He understands well that to build trust (no matter with whom - either the Left Alliance in his own country or the Global South, or anyone else), he has to back down and learn to compromise.
But for him, it’s much easier to pretend that he doesn’t know what’s going on, bury his head in the sand, and continue with the status quo - the way he’s paid to do.
If it is of any help, we “westerners” often don’t trust our own politicians or allies. It was clear from the start that the US had no business invading Iraq (at least the second time, I’m too young to have my own opinion on the first one).
Not only politicians, remember press was full of ‘weapons of mass destruction’. I think what most westerners don’t admit is our own propaganda.
I think the tone of the press coverage was not the same in all western countries.
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fyi, you wrote
comparison between the Ukraine war and Russian attack of Ukraine
where I presume you meant the comparison between Iraq and Ukraine wars. It took me a while to figure out what you were saying there.
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There is a widespread perception that the existing international order of rules and institutions that the West has shaped mainly benefits the West itself, and that Western countries do not live up to their own standards.
Was there ever a time when people outside of these rich countries believed their propaganda? The self-serving hypocrisy has always been pretty clear if you’re not benefiting from it.
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This is a big part of it. Dealing with China isn’t any better, but it probably won’t blow up on the leaders in their tenure so they might as well tag the bag.
When did the Global South trust in Western powers? When they were colonies?
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Hell I’m European and the unwavering support of the genocide in Gaza by Von Der Leyen and other key players in our governments and the brutal crackdown across Europe on pro Palestinian free speech and environmental protesting is making me lose trust in our own governing bodies. I’m with the Global South on this. I’m not proud of what we are accomplishing as of late or the kind of messaging we’re putting out on the world. How much genocide is acceptable genocide ? How much protesting crackdown can you do on legitimate issues and still call yourself a free speech country?
I also agree with the arguments put forward regarding the Iraqi invasions. There were no weapons of mass destruction and we should not have been there.
And there are also other issues. The European governments at large seem to have given up on younger generations. How the hell can you even have kids when you’re being squeezed this much for basic things like rent and food all across Europe ? How is it that in many places across Europe the youth is being exploited with these unpaid internships just to be allowed a decent job? Seems like most governmental action since covid has been to support the rich and old and neglect the struggling youth. If Europe doesn’t want kids, then i won’t have kids. That’s my protest. Let the rich and old people who get so much solve the fertility issue, I say.
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A rare case where Betteridge’s Law is wrong!
The West could’ve treated this countries as equal partners or partners who need a hand. Instead they saw people they could exploit. Which they did and are still doing. They are so desperate and angry that they take bad deals from China and Russia just to get away from the West. Who can blame them?
The idea of Macron talking about trust is just funny.
Idk, is eastern imperialism from China and Russia with blatant land-grabs undermining the individualism and self-directed nature of their neighboring countries?
Interest trumps principles usually.
