Guilt of Nations

[Grinker]

I know that there's no formal connection between the worthy Bishop, Jubilee
and TRC reparations. Their approaches however have a lot in common. The
popularity of reparations today is a consequence of the defeat of an
independently-led struggle for liberation.  It's an extension of the
sanctions approach of pleading with imperialism to do the job (in this case
asking it to pay some compensation), in the absence of a movement that can
make an impact.  It also ends up sending people on a long detour into
lengthy administrative and bureaucratic processes, tribunals and
litigation - much cheaper than policing popular resistance.

Inherent in the reparations approach is a practical renunciation of
independent action and the fostering of illusions in the humanitarian west.
The few crumbs that they may indeed pay out will merely nurture further
illusions in the ability of the West to play the role of honest broker and
humanitarian peacekeeper around the world -  just what they claim they're
trying to do in a number of  'rogue' or 'failed' states.


> Well, go ahead, make the case. I assume you are referring to the campaign
> led by Archbishop Ndungane against international banks and corporations,
and
> some of the Jubilee SA material on reparations at http://aidc.org.za ? And
I
> assume you know it has nothing to do with the TRC?
>
>
>