The Drunk Diplomat

Well the G-8 meeting in Italy is wrapping up today. These big powerhouse meetings never seem to produce anything substantive… only pledges for this, money for that, help for Africa, etc. Understandably, most of the leaders come from democracies so they cannot just promise to do anything because they have to deal with domestic public opinion and their legislative branch. However, some of the most important players are not democracies. Are these states counter productive to the grander goals of the original G-7 group of industrialized democracies? Now it’s like the G-20 – a smorgasbord of aging democracies, quasi-capitalist autocratic one party states, and random states from underrepresented regions to give the group a more “global feel.” For instance, does South Africa and Egypt really represent Africa? Will South Africa’s presence in any way improve the conditions for citizens of Mozambique, Ghana, or Congo? I highly doubt it, South Africa is at the G-20 because it is currently the largest economy in Africa, a former British colony, and a young democracy that will fight for issues that will improve it’s national interests – not Sub-Saharan African interests.

Furthermore, how can the United States and the other European democracies be champions of human rights if they are constantly brokering deals with China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Constantly, like China already is, promoting economic growth over environmental sustainability, human rights, and freedom of speech. Three traditional pillars of the Democratic West’s critique of the various autocratic governments found in the East; including Russia, China, most of the Middle East, parts of Southeast Asia, etc. This “G-8″ (really a G-40) meeting was a prime example. Hu Jin Tao had to leave early to oversee the crackdown on Uighur Muslims in Xinjang province. The Uighur are denied religious freedom, freedom of speech, and I’m sure they are now being tortured and held against their will by the Chinese state for expressing they inalienable right of freedom of assembly.

There was not a peep to be heard from the supposed Free, Democratic, Liberal West. “We don’t want to embarrass China or critique China during a recession!” It may hurt our precious economy! Well I say that’s Bull Shit. Everyone knows exactly whats going on in Xinjang, government repression – old school style – cops in the streets bashing heads, the erroneous taking of prisoners, torturing the leaders, repression, violence, and media silence.

The G-20 has its place, but the G-7 (minus Russia) should not be dissolved. Even as the West is supposedly in decline (not really decline, bu the rise of the rest) it cannot stop putting pressure on other governments or lower its standards for fleeting economic gain. The Chinese go to Africa with no demands for human rights reforms or environmental reforms. 10 years later the Chinese have destroyed the local environment and impoverished the people by welcoming corruption. The US goes to Africa demanding human rights reforms and environmental protections – 20 years later the country is a functioning democracy ready to work on its own.

The Vietnamese apparently have no bad feelings towards American’s any longer. The “American War” as it is known in Vietnam is a distant memory only found it textbooks to the youth of the country. According to this video from World Focus 8 in 10 Vietnamese have a positive view of the United States. 80%! That would make Vietnam one of the most pro-American countries in the world. I posit two reasons for the amazing view the Vietnamese have of the United States. First, the Vietnamese have a belief that America is a land of opportunity, they like our culture, and our technology. Many Vietnamese dream of studying in the United States and returning to Vietnam to improve their country. The youth of Vietnam are experiencing something that the youth of Iran are experiencing. They are not getting 100% of their information from authoritative figures in the country, rather, they are connected to the internet and recieve information from a variety of sources. This is how Persian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, etc. youth learn about America and democratic values. Second, Vietnam shares a large border with the rising Chinese giant. The Vietnamese elite may view a closer relationship with America will help balance the interests of Vietnam and in general Southeast Asia. This is a position that Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea have taken to avoid Chinese dominance in Asia. It allows Japan to rely on American nuclear weapons and military strength without building its own – keeping an Asian arms race only a threat – not reality.