Colonialism is a predatory, extractive economic relation. The presence of a mercenary company alone doesn't tell us what purpose they serve. Many of their clients are the same African states that have recently overthrown their neocolonial rulers in Europe, and have understandable reservations about doing business with western mercenaries at such a sensitive time.
They could be part of neo-colonialism, if Russia was actively dominating and exploiting these countries financially in a manner that goes beyond trade. However, I have not seen any evidence of that, just the presence of mercenaries. Western millitaries and mercenaries are not neocolonialism itself, but the means by which neocolonialism is maintained when IMF loans and other financial tools are not sufficient.
Do you think African states are picking geopolitical allies purely based on how strong the state is? All states are "authoritarian," the core difference is in which class the state serves. African states are generally interested in kicking out imperialists, so they side with socialist states like China and strategically anti-imperialist capitalist states like Russia.
15 Comments
SocialistVibes01@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 62d
On, non!
Takapapatapaka@tarte.nuage-libre.fr · -2 pts · 63d
First sentence still true, it's just used by france to (badly attempt to) hide their continued colonialism.
Cowbee@lemmy.ml · 9 pts · 63d
First sentence is 100% false, actually.
kungen@feddit.nu · 1 pts · 63d
You don't consider the GRU/Africa Corps to be neo-colonialism at the least?
RiverRock@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 62d
Colonialism is a predatory, extractive economic relation. The presence of a mercenary company alone doesn't tell us what purpose they serve. Many of their clients are the same African states that have recently overthrown their neocolonial rulers in Europe, and have understandable reservations about doing business with western mercenaries at such a sensitive time.
Cowbee@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 62d
They could be part of neo-colonialism, if Russia was actively dominating and exploiting these countries financially in a manner that goes beyond trade. However, I have not seen any evidence of that, just the presence of mercenaries. Western millitaries and mercenaries are not neocolonialism itself, but the means by which neocolonialism is maintained when IMF loans and other financial tools are not sufficient.
zonico@discuss.tchncs.de · -6 pts · 63d
Cowbee@lemmy.ml · 13 pts · 63d
Dehumanizing people over political beliefs doesn't actually help your case.
SocialistVibes01@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 62d
.de
Probably voted Merz.
drolex@sopuli.xyz · -9 pts · 63d
Because juntas have a hard-on for other authoritarian regimes?
Cowbee@lemmy.ml · 13 pts · 63d
Do you think African states are picking geopolitical allies purely based on how strong the state is? All states are "authoritarian," the core difference is in which class the state serves. African states are generally interested in kicking out imperialists, so they side with socialist states like China and strategically anti-imperialist capitalist states like Russia.
BrainInABox@lemmy.ml · 13 pts · 63d
Yes, because all African countries are "juntas" you racist prick.
RiverRock@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 62d
Our Prince family, their warlord clan
drolex@sopuli.xyz · -8 pts · 62d
The ones that are ditching France for Russia are.
BrainInABox@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 62d
Prove it.
geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 62d
"Their Juntas vs our Democracies"