While there are many phenomena that divide East/West relations since the illusion of the end of the Cold War in 1991, the West often tends to impose its own vision of the world, ignoring or marginalizing different perspectives. This means that Western countries and their media present their own point of view as the only valid one, neglecting or minimizing the opinions and experiences of other cultures and civilizations. They judge other societies based on their own norms and values, without taking into account their contexts and specificities. This attitude is due to chauvinism, systemic racism, extremist nationalism or fear of the unknown, and generates negative consequences such as the creation of tensions and conflicts between cultures, the loss of diversity and cultural richness, and the limitation of international understanding and cooperation.
Background of the special military operations of the Russian Federation in Ukraine
The proxy war in Ukraine is an example of the imposition of the Western worldview. Working together within NATO, the United States and the European Union support the Ukrainian government and encourage resistance to Russian influence, imposing their own interests and values as universal. This led to a polarization of the situation, with Western countries supporting Ukraine on one side and Russia supporting the Russian-speaking populations of regions segregated since the Maidan events of 2014. This approach ignored the complexities of the Ukrainian situation and Russia’s legitimate demands in matters of national security regarding Ukraine’s membership in NATO or the installation of NATO military bases in this country under Russia’s nose. The imposition of the Western worldview has also led to a militarization of the crisis, with Western weapons and military advisors being sent to Ukraine, exacerbating tensions and making a peaceful resolution more difficult. It is important to recognize the national security interests and prospects of Russia and the Russian-speaking communities in discriminated regions, to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis. This requires a more inclusive approach, which takes into account the complexities of the situation and the interests mentioned above.
Refusal of diversity of perspectives
The imposition of the Western worldview is a complex and deeply rooted phenomenon in Western history and culture. It is a tendency to consider one’s own culture, values and norms as universal and superior, and to impose them on other cultures and societies. This attitude is driven by a mixture of factors such as chauvinism, nationalism, fear of the unknown, the desire to maintain a position of power and influence, and the belief that one’s own culture is the only civilized or only correct. This imposition manifests itself in different ways, such as the spread of Western popular culture, the export of Western economic and political models, and the promotion of Western values and norms as universal. This generates profound and lasting consequences for non-Western cultures and societies, such as the erosion of cultural diversity, the loss of identity and autonomy, and the marginalization of non-Western voices and perspectives. Favorable to multipolarism and under the leadership of the BRICS Alliance, the Global South invites the West to recognize and challenge this trend to promote better understanding and greater cooperation between cultures and societies, and to enable a greater diversity and cultural richness.
Censorship and manipulation of information
Since the end of World War II, the annals of the history of international relations reveal that censorship and manipulation of information are tools used to impose the Western worldview. Western media have great influence over how world events are perceived and presented, and can choose to highlight or ignore certain information to promote a certain narrative or to serve the interests of their governments or shareholders. This results in biased presentation of facts, the use of emotionally charged terms or concepts to influence public opinion, and the marginalization or disqualification of dissenting voices or alternative perspectives. This manipulation of information can have serious consequences, such as misinforming public opinion, manipulating public opinion to support controversial policies or actions, and limiting people’s ability to make decisions. Western media speculation on the situation in Ukraine best illustrates this trend. Following them, one has the impression that Moscow is already under the thumb of kyiv and that the world is collapsing, which, in military strategy, is unthinkable in view of the military superiority of the discontinence that the master of the Kremlin has so ingeniously endowed the Russian Federation with for thirty (30) long years.
Denial of historical crimes
Please don’t blindfold you. The West no longer has a monopoly on strategic initiative. This is why he lamentably adopts the denial of historical crimes in order to claim to ensure his homeostasis on the world stage. The denial of historical crimes is another facet of the imposition of the Western worldview. Western countries tend to downplay or ignore atrocities they have committed in the past, such as colonization, slavery, genocides, wars of aggression, etc. This denial allows Western countries to maintain a positive image of themselves and their history, while avoiding taking responsibility for the suffering and injustices they have caused. It also prevents victims and their descendants from receiving justice and reparations. Denial of historical crimes perpetuates injustice and inequality, and makes reconciliation and healing difficult. And, as Tiken Jah Fakoly says in one of his melodies, “The sorcerer always forgets, but the victim’s parents never forget.” It is essential to recognize and take responsibility for historic crimes in order to move towards true reconciliation and justice.
Intolerance to criticism
For quite a while, the field of freedom of expression has been worthy of fascism and Nazism. Intolerance of criticism is a fundamental feature of the imposition of the Western worldview. Western countries and their media tend to react aggressively or defensively to criticism of their politics, culture or history. This results in marginalization or disqualification of critical voices, an attempt to discredit critics by portraying them as “anti-Western” or “anti-democratic,” or even open repression of dissidents. This intolerance of criticism prevents open and honest debate about the errors and weaknesses of the West, and makes it difficult to question dominant dogmas and ideologies. It also allows Western countries to maintain a positive image of themselves and their policies, while avoiding taking into account the negative consequences of their actions. Intolerance of criticism is justified by the argument that the criticism is “anti-Western” or “anti-democratic”, which allows them to be disqualified without seriously examining them. This creates a climate of fear and repression, where people are discouraged from criticizing or questioning the established order. To enable real reflection and evolution in society, the promotion of a culture of criticism and open debate presents itself as an imperative necessity in the Western world.
Promotion of ignorance
Turning away from the truth to celebrate lies is the most serious form of ignorance. Promoting ignorance is a strategy used to impose the Western worldview, encouraging ignorance or misunderstanding of non-Western cultures, histories, and perspectives, as well as the negative consequences of Western policies and actions. This allows Western countries to maintain their power and influence without being held accountable for their actions, and prevents people from making informed decisions and participating in informed debate on important issues. Promoting ignorance is often done through limiting access to information, promoting biased media, marginalizing critical voices, and creating a climate of fear. To counter this trend, promoting education, curiosity and the search for truth is of vital importance.
Mohamed Lamine KABA, Expert in geopolitics of governance and regional integration, Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences, Pan-African University, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”
