If you listen to the communists here, you would get the feeling that they hate imperialism, after communalism, of course.
But when you exercise power, it is difficult not to exploit the weak.
I read an article by Peter Hitchens in Dailymail today about the Chinese version of imperialism in Africa.
Even if you read it after dosing yourself heavily with handfuls of salt, it is hard not to see that China is up to no good.
The article speaks mostly about the inhuman working conditions in Congo and Zambia, is more a polemic. It does not mention any figures, makes its appeal to our emotions- even so, I feel there is truth in it.
As long as the empowered people are prepared to live with inequalities, there will always be the exploitation of the weak, and justice will not be the same as fairness; and democracy, a swindle on the dispossessed.
It is a sad fact that even a nation such as China, with such long history can't resist from making the mistakes of old European States.
The best thing that could happen is for the western corporate businesses not to outsource their production to China. There is quite a lot of public vigilance in the west, and in third-world countries it is nearly always absent.
If the west does not bring some ethics and values to its outsourcing business model, it will mean that it shares some of the blood with the hands of totalitarian states such as China.
Neocons are so desperate to spread democratic values they are prepared to lay down lives, but can they shell out a few more cents and pennies?
That would be a real help to the poorer people all over the world. It will help them find their voice.
Read the story. May not make sense for many, but was reminded of Arun Shourie.
ReplyDeletePower has only one -ism and that is totalitarianism. Irrespective of the launch vehicle once a man or party assumes power it will be hard to give up on it. To retain and exercise power you need to be a totalitarian.
ReplyDeleteGandhiji was not after power but other congressmen were and that is why there was / is so much of difference in the way Gandhiji thought and other congressmen behave(d).
China is no different. It wants power and you can't expect it to be any different but a totalitarian.
Mr. Balajhi,
ReplyDeleteyou compel me towards quick responses.
Power, in all its forms, is a personal affair. The state of ruler and subject is within the consciousness of a human.
Activist note like Arun Shourie, is it? Shourie's articles were marshaled with precise arguments, one leading into other.
ReplyDeleteI definitely miss his provocative essays, especially these days, when bombs are going off everywhere. No one can make no sense of anything. MJ Akbar, whose essays i admired, has lost his way: he seems to apologise for everything, sometimes raising diversionary points.
"Power, in all its forms, is a personal affair. The state of ruler and subject is within the consciousness of a human."- this is a profound statement. It is not easy to accept; i find that I act both slave and the master, depending what the situation is. It is only in that sense do I understand it.
I think it is possible to retain and exercise power without being totalitarian, but that co-opts people- the leader leads without leading, the emperor reigns without enslaving... etc etc :)
"Power, in all its forms, is a personal affair..."
ReplyDeleteI fail to comprehend it fully Kartikey.