only in recent decades, and is m a process of change. Most of the
poor countries v/ere until only a relatively short time ago parts of
the old colonial system built by the European Powers. They are now
supposedly independent and in terms of constitutional politics, of
course, some even profess a kind of socialism. But in real terms,
when one considers their ability to pursue an independent course
of action, they are not. They remain economically tied to the
capitalist system. Even if they do not depend upon the old metropolitan power, they depend upon the western powers as a bloc. They
trade with them, produce for them, accept their aid and advice, and
send their youth to them to be educated. The poor countries have
become appendages of the rich, their economic development has been
arrested; with their path to progress blocked, they are in constant
turmoil. Many of them are on the road to revolution, which will
mean breaking many of their ties to the capitalist world.
The rich capitalist countries cannot accept the breaking of
these ties lightly, for they, in their turn, are dependent upon the
poor countries. The Third World is an important, if not the most
important, arena of conflict in the modern world. And the stake of
the rich capitalist countries in the Third World has led to a near
obsession with the "problem of counter-insurgency." This is now seen
by many experts as the central problem. As one of Prance's most
eminent strategists, General Andre Beaufre, puts it: "The major
long-term danger...may come from the fTiers Monde1 and the consequent necessity is to move towards as large as possible a community
of peoples whose roots lie in European civilization, now in process
of rejuvenation." This is what lies behind the long-run planning of
the western powers today. And this is what lies behind policies of
the United States toward Indochina. It is against this background
that one must see the emerging lines of western policy toward Southern
Africa....
All of Africa lies within what has commonly been accepted as the
western sphere of interest. This must be stated clearly if one is to
avoid the usual cant about the responsibilities of the rich countries
toward developing countries. Such rhetoric tells us nothing about
the realities of African politics in the v/orld context.... However
grave the economic problems they face, African contries still labor
to solve them within the framework of their relations with western
countries, which is why theproblems are not being solved. In this
context, real independence is impossible.
It is not only that the western countries use all the means at
their disposal to block initiatives, hov/ever beneficial to Africa,
which might threaten their interests. It is also that, in the name
of General Beaufrefs grand solution, they are moving energetically
toward that community of "peoples whose roots lie in European civilization." The strategic planners evidently feel that this may be the
only way to "keep Africa." An alliance of the NATO powers with South
Africa, Portugal, and Rhodesia is in the making.
Neo-Colonialism in Southern Africa
Independent Africa is only beginning to discover the reality of
neo-colonialism, that freedom does not come v/hen the new flag is
raised. The growing influence of foreign economic power in Africa
is the inevitable consequence of the continuing expansion of the
western economies....