This. I remember watching Democracy Now! with an ex-girlfriend and her remarking how odd it is to hear actual news about Latin America and Africa outside of some random mention of chaotic violence.
Exactly. Due to the way that our media and educational systems talk about them, people in the global south are not viewed as real people, they are rather just one dimensional, interchangeable cardboard cutouts. They are either to be feared as a potential threat (criminals, terrorists, drug dealers) or perpetual victims to be pitied, infantilized and - if we’re feeling generous - rescued and “civilized”.
It’s the orientalist world view pure and simple, but applied globally to everyone outside of the “golden billion”.
This. I remember watching Democracy Now! with an ex-girlfriend and her remarking how odd it is to hear actual news about Latin America and Africa outside of some random mention of chaotic violence.
Exactly. Due to the way that our media and educational systems talk about them, people in the global south are not viewed as real people, they are rather just one dimensional, interchangeable cardboard cutouts. They are either to be feared as a potential threat (criminals, terrorists, drug dealers) or perpetual victims to be pitied, infantilized and - if we’re feeling generous - rescued and “civilized”.
It’s the orientalist world view pure and simple, but applied globally to everyone outside of the “golden billion”.