Black History Month and Eurocentrism

Workers' Daily Internet Edition: Article Index :

Black History Month and Eurocentrism

Iran Refutes British Government’s Allegations

Africa-Europe Relations:
The Africa-EU Summit Must Go Ahead

This October has marked the twentieth anniversary of the start of Black History Month (BHM) in Britain. The London Strategic Policy Committee, the successor to the Greater London Council, initially launched BHM in London in 1987, as one means to address the legacy of colonialism, as identified in the African Jubilee Year Declaration. It has now been widely adopted throughout the country by local authorities, the heritage sector and even the government itself.

            This year, for example, Gordon Brown stated that in his view BHM “has, as always, a valuable role to play in increasing awareness across the country about the significance of the UK’s black heritage and the contribution of Black African and Caribbean communities to our country”. He went on to say that it is even more important because this year “marks the vote to end the slave trade in the British Empire”, adding that “ when Britain voted to end this trade in 1807, it was one of the first countries to do so ”, and drawing the conclusion “ that is just one striking example of why Black History Month is important. By learning about our history, we can acknowledge the values we share, and celebrate the diversity that now exists in the UK.”

            It is difficult to see how the Prime Minister, apparently trained as a historian, can draw such conclusions, since an examination of the events connected with the abolition vote in 1807 suggest that the values of the working people of Britain then were very different from those held by the rich and their government. That while the rich and their governments zealously defended the enslavement and colonial conquest of Africa, Asia and elsewhere, the working people struggled to oppose it, recognising that it was in their interests to defend the rights of all against a common enemy. Two centuries later, very little has changed, in this regard, and despite government proclamations to the contrary there are no “shared” or “universal” values and, as history shows, never were. Even a cursory examination of human history shows that it is mainly concerned with the struggle that takes place between different social classes and that this struggle also takes place in the realm of ideas and values, which also change over time.

            Gordon Brown’s remarks and the government’s leading role in the bicentennial events show that, as part of the Labour government’s declared intention to “make Britain great” again, there is a continual attempt to whitewash the history of Britain, to laud the British Empire, and that there is a refusal to acknowledge the crimes that have been committed. It is in this context that Tony Blair spoke of the Empire as “a remarkable achievement” and Brown commented that “the days of Britain apologising for its colonial past are over” and that rather what he referred to as “British values” should be celebrated. In fact the government’s celebration of these Eurocentric values, sometimes referred to as “universal” values, is a return to the so-called civilising mission of the 19th century, a justification of the export and imposition of the values of neo-liberal globalisation to the African continent, to Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, wherever the dictate of the monopolies demands.

            The history of those of African and Caribbean origin did not start with slavery, nor with its abolition and indeed it could be argued that this history of the African continent, the birthplace of humanity and many vital scientific developments, is necessarily of interest to us all. Nor can this history be presented as one of “contribution to our country”, as if it is not both significant in its own right and integral to British and world history. The history of Africa and the Caribbean during the last 500 years demonstrates precisely the determination of peoples to follow their own path, defend their own values, and refuse to be dictated to by those who presume to be their superiors. The history of those of African and Caribbean origin in Britain, during the same period, shows time and again that they have shared weal and woe with other working people and consequently fought together not just for their own rights but in defence of the rights of all.

            It is necessary to fight against the Eurocentrism and racism which permeate every aspect of life and are a reflection and legacy enslavement and colonialism, of the crimes which have and are still being committed on the grounds of “celebrating British values”. It is precisely to justify, spread disinformation on and obscure the present-day relations of neo-liberal exploitation that the “celebration of British values” is being promoted. What is clear is that the history and culture of any one section of the people cannot just be ghettoised as part of the “multi-cultural” agenda of the government, nor can it be seen only as of concern to some. Rather it is a question that must be taken up as part and parcel of the movement for the enlightenment of us all.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini has rejected accusations against Iran regarding the nature of its activities in Afghanistan, saying that Iran's role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the restoration of peace and stability to that country has been defined. Allegations made by defence secretary Des Browne in the House of Commons were aimed at justifying the illegitimate occupation of Iraq, Mohammad Ali Hosseini said. Those countries making such accusations are themselves posing a threat to peace and security, Hosseini added.

            He said that the presence of occupation forces including British troops in Iraq over the past four years has inflicted irreparable losses on the Iraqi people. "Several thousand Iraqi civilians have been killed and the infrastructure of the country has been destroyed over the past four years," he said.

            He said that the presence of British troops in Afghanistan entailed the same plight for the Afghan people, adding that they are responsible for their provocative actions including indiscriminate bombardment of civilian targets and destruction of residential areas in different provinces of Afghanistan.

            Citing the British troops' performance in Afghanistan, Hosseini said that Britain encouraged poppy cultivation and drug trafficking in Afghanistan and was engaged in negotiations with bandits and smugglers. He said that Britain's approach toward regional states and sale of weapons to certain states and its unconditional support for the US during Israeli aggression against Lebanon in July-August 2006 has caused dissent in public opinion of the Middle East nations.

            Hosseini called on the United Nations to monitor Britain’s destructive role in Afghanistan and Iraq and bring to justice the occupiers responsible for the massacre of Iraqis and Afghan people.

(source: IRNA)

Kgalema Motlanthe*, ANC Today, 19-25 October 2007

In an article in the British newspaper, The Independent, on 20 September 2007, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote: "It is also right that I make clear my position on the forthcoming EU-Africa Summit. I want this summit -under the leadership of [Portugal's] Prime Minister Socrates – to be a real success. It is a serious opportunity to forge a stronger partnership between the EU and Africa in order to fight poverty, tackle climate change, and agree new initiatives on education, health and peacekeeping...

            "I believe that President Mugabe's presence would undermine the Summit, diverting attention from the important issues that need to be resolved. In those circumstances, my attendance would not be appropriate."

            The EU-Africa Summit will be held in Lisbon, Portugal in December, the first having been held in Cairo in 2000. Except for the UK, the member states of the African Union and the European Union are, as far as I could establish, of one mind that all member states of both Unions should attend the Summit.

A shared concern

            Africa has rightly insisted that all countries have a right freely to constitute their delegations. Except for the UK, the EU has accepted this. The UK is demanding that the EU should instruct Zimbabwe to exclude President Mugabe from its delegation, arguing among other things, that he is under an EU travel ban.

            The British government claims it has taken these and other positions on Zimbabwe because it is concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe and the role of the Zimbabwe government.

            Yet, all the other governments that will attend the EU-Africa Summit are equally concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe.

            Because of this concern, after many years of continuous engagement with the leaders of Zimbabwe, in March this year the Southern African Development Community (SADC) took two important decisions. One of these was that President Thabo Mbeki should facilitate a dialogue between the government and ruling party of Zimbabwe and the opposition to arrive at an agreement that would address Zimbabwe's political challenges.

            During the recent visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to our country, President Mbeki reported publicly that the negotiations were proceeding well and would soon be concluded successfully. Everybody, including the British, knows that already, as a result of an agreement arrived at during the dialogue facilitated under the direction of our President, the Zimbabwe ruling party, ZANU PF, and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) groups jointly sponsored a constitutional amendment in the Zimbabwe parliament.

            The second decision taken by SADC was that the community's executive secretary should undertake a review of the Zimbabwe economy and make proposals about what the community should do to assist the economic recovery of Zimbabwe. Having concluded his work, the SADC Finance Ministers are now seized with the task of working out a practical programme of action.

            The simple truth, therefore, is that SADC, with the full support of the AU, is not only concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe. It is acting on this concern, with the full support and cooperation of the government, the ruling party and the opposition political formations of Zimbabwe.

            Clearly the British government believes all this means nothing. It is suggesting that it is morally superior to everybody else in the EU and the AU. The question to ask is whence this extraordinary sense of superiority.

Regime change

            Perhaps the answer lies in an editorial in the British periodical, The Economist, of 5 July 2007 headed "The virtues of isolationism".

            It said: "In a blistering attack on Mr Mugabe's rule, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, said that the state of the country was now so bad that foreign governments (particularly Britain's) should intervene to 'remove' Mr Mugabe from power... Mr Ncube's appeal to the West to remove Mr Mugabe should be taken as a cry of pain, not a reason for the West to invade... it is only the Africans, and particularly the southern Africans, who can apply the strong pressure needed to get rid of him quickly.

            "Yet the Portuguese do now have a way to give the African Union a much-needed jolt. They should refuse to let Mr Mugabe come to Lisbon. That will force Africa's leaders to reconsider their priorities. If that stops the summit from taking place, so be it: a firm stand would send a powerful message of solidarity to all those in Zimbabwe who long to be rescued from their plight. Welcoming their tormentor to Lisbon for the sake of a jamboree would be a corresponding disgrace."

            It is regime change and nothing else. The demand is made in clear language -Southern Africa must carry out this task. The question that needs to be asked is whether this demand reflects the views of the British government.

            As a movement, the ANC has always assumed the British Labour Party was anti-colonial and a principled defender of the right of all nations to self-determination. In the post-war years these positions were eminently represented by the Labour Party MP, Fenner Brockway.

            Another historical fact, manifested over many decades, is that in our region the British governments have consistently appeased the racist white minorities, and refused to align themselves with the African majorities, honestly responding to their legitimate demands.

            In 1910 the British government betrayed our people by handing power in our country to the white minority. The British Labour Party followed this route with regard to Zimbabwe when, as the governing party on 11 November 1965, it refused to suppress the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) rebellion of the white minority against the British Crown, led by Ian Smith.

            Addressing the British House of Commons on 11 November 1965, Prime Minister Wilson said: "I repeat that the British Government condemns the purported (unilateral) declaration of independence (UDI) by the former Government of Rhodesia as an illegal act and one which is ineffective in law. It is an act of rebellion against the Crown and against the Constitution as by law established, and actions taken to give effect to it will be treasonable...

            "We did not seek this challenge. The House will concede that we did everything in our power to avoid it, but now it has been made, then, with whatever sadness, we shall face this challenge with resolution and determination. Whatever measures the Government, with the support of this House, judge are needed to restore Rhodesia to the rule of law, to allegiance to the Crown, these measures will be taken."

            The measures the British government took to respond to what Prime Minister Wilson characterised as rebellion and treason did not include any demand or action to achieve regime change. On the same day, the British newspaper, The Guardian, said: "The sanctions announced (by the Wilson government) are inadequate for the job they have to do – to break the Rhodesian Government."

            The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Harold Wilson, did not call for regime change.

            The change of regime, the "breaking" of the Rhodesian Government, was brought about by the struggle of the oppressed masses of Zimbabwe, led by their liberation movement, during which thousands of African lives were lost. Similarly, regime change in our own country, to reverse the British betrayal of 1910, came about because of the protracted struggle of our own people, led by our liberation movement, again at great cost in African lives.

            The costly victory of the Zimbabwe liberation struggle gave the British government the possibility to resume its responsibility as the colonial power charged with handing over power to the people of Zimbabwe, as it had done in all its colonies in the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, except South Africa.

A promise betrayed

            Charged to preside over the 1979 Lancaster House negotiations to decide the future of the Zimbabwe, the British government still tried everything it could to protect the interests of the same white minority in Zimbabwe whose actions it had denounced in

1965 as illegal, rebellious and treasonable.

            As a result of these efforts, for 10 years after independence, liberated Zimbabwe was prohibited from acting in a decisive manner to change the pattern of land ownership born of the colonial land dispossession of the indigenous majority, in favour of the white minority.

            This was because the British government recognised the centrality of the land question to the colonisation of Zimbabwe, white minority interests, and therefore the liberation struggle.

            To balance its insistence that the right of its kith and kin to hold on to the land that had been acquired by force had to be respected for 10 years, the British government, supported by its US counterpart, undertook to provide the government of Zimbabwe with substantial financial resources to acquire land to address the land question, insisting that this should be done on the basis of the "willing seller, willing buyer principle".

            After a long period of negotiations with the British Conservative Party government, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, her successor, Prime Minister John Major, finally agreed that the British government would honour the undertakings made during the Lancaster House negotiations, in the same way as the Zimbabwe government had respected its commitments in this regard.

            However, the British Labour Party took power in 1997, inflicting a humiliating electoral defeat on the Conservative Party. It has remained in power ever since. As a successor government, and contrary to international convention and the rule of law, it unilaterally repudiated the undertakings made by the John Major government on the land question in Zimbabwe.

            To add insult to injury, it arrogantly asserted its right to impose what amounted to a neo-colonial diktat on the government of Zimbabwe. All this was reflected in the infamous 5 November 1997 letter written by the then British Minister for International Development, Claire Short, to Kumbirai Kangai, the then Zimbabwe Minster of Agriculture and Land. She wrote:

            "I should make it clear that we do not accept that Britain has a special responsibility to meet the costs of land purchase in Zimbabwe. We are a new Government from diverse backgrounds without links to former colonial interests. My own origins are Irish and as you know we were colonised not colonisers...

            "Again, I am told there were discussions in 1989 and 1996 to explore the possibility of further assistance. However that is all in the past. If we look to the present, a number of specific issues are unresolved, including the way in which land would be acquired and compensation paid – clearly it would not help the poor of Zimbabwe if it was done in a way which undermined investor confidence... It follows from this that a programme of rapid land acquisition as you now seem to envisage would be impossible for us to support."

            This position stands at the heart both of what has happened in Zimbabwe since this letter was written, and the positions the British government is taking today on the forthcoming EU-Africa Summit.

To right a wrong – miserable advice

            Many things have gone wrong in Zimbabwe over the years. Our movement, the ANC, has engaged both ZANU PF and the MDC on these matters continuously, honestly and frankly, over many years.

            We know that the South African government, led by the ANC, has done the same, including initiating serious dialogue with the British and other governments, seeking to assist in finding solutions to all the problems affecting Zimbabwe, in the interest of its people.

            We have avoided detailing our efforts in public, because we were convinced, as we continue to be, that this would facilitate the speedy resolution of the problems confronting the sister people of our immediate neighbour, Zimbabwe.

            We have done so deliberately, understanding that it is more important to work, practically, for the resolution of the challenges in Zimbabwe than to engage in fruitless and self-serving rhetoric as many others have done.

            These, by contrast, have presented themselves as the true friends of the people of Zimbabwe. This has led to the situation where the British government makes bold to present itself as being superior to everybody else in Southern Africa, Africa and the EU.

            On 7 April 2002, the British Observer published extracts from a paper written by Robert Cooper and published by the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) entitled "The post-modern state". Cooper contributed his paper to a publication of the FPC focusing on the topic, "Reordering the World: the long term implications of September 11."

            The Observer described Cooper as "Tony Blair's foreign policy guru". The FPC said: "Senior British diplomat Robert Cooper has helped to shape British Prime Minister Tony Blair's calls for a new internationalism and a new doctrine of humanitarian intervention which would place limits on state sovereignty."

            Among other things, Cooper argued that the collapse of imperialism and colonialism has resulted in global chaos, including the emergence and survival of 'failed states'. To respond to this, he said:

            "The most logical way to deal with chaos, and the one employed most often in the past, is colonisation. But this is unacceptable to post-modern states. Empire and imperialism are words that have become a form of abuse and no colonial powers are willing to take on the job, though the opportunities -perhaps even the need – for colonisation is as great as it ever was in the nineteenth century. Those left out of the global economy risk falling into a vicious circle. Weak government means disorder and that means falling investment.

            "AII the conditions for imperialism are there, but both the supply and demand for imperialism have dried up. And yet a world in which the efficient and well governed export stability and liberty seems eminently desirable.

            "What is needed is a new kind of imperialism, one compatible with human rights and cosmopolitan values: an imperialism which aims to bring order and organisation but which rests today on the voluntary principle."

An AU-EU partnership

            We do not know whether these unapologetically backward and reactionary ideas inform the approach of the British government towards Zimbabwe, but they are consistent with what Claire Short said in her letter to Kumbirai Kangai.

            The EU-Africa Summit, long delayed by the British insistence that President Mugabe should be excluded, should go ahead as planned. It must attend seriously to the important issues that are of fundamental concern to Africa and the EU, rather than allow itself to be imprisoned and paralysed by dangerous and destructive neo-colonialist ambitions.

            In a 2007 document, the EU commits itself to a strategy that "proposes forging a strategic security and development partnership between the EU and Africa. The strategy focuses on key requirements for sustainable development such as peace and security, good and effective governance, trade, interconnectivity, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. New initiatives have been launched, most notably a governance initiative and a Euro-African Partnership for Infrastructure, which was launched in July 2006.

            "Under the Governance Initiative, the EU will, for instance, provide support for reforms triggered by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a unique tool for peer review and peer learning in good democratic governance by and for Africans. And in the context of the Partnership for Infrastructure, the EU will support programmes that facilitate interconnectivity at continental level to promote regional trade, integration, stability and development."

            These are some of the matters that should be discussed during the December EU-Africa Summit. Others must include comprehensive EU support for NEPAD, the strengthening of the AU, sustained resource transfers to Africa to help us to meet the Millennium Development Goals and sustained development to defeat poverty and underdevelopment, and genuine respect for the independence and sovereign voice of the peoples of Africa.

            Japan, China and India are engaged in dialogue with Africa to help us, themselves, and all humanity to address the "special needs" of Africa that were recognised in the unanimously adopted UN Millennium Declaration of 2000.

            It would be very good if all member states of the EU go to Lisbon in December to follow this example, and enter into dialogue with Africa on all issues that Africa and the EU place on the common agenda. If some countries decide to absent themselves from this critically important dialogue, to, feed their celebration of their holiness, regrettable as it is, we surely have the liberty to repeat what The Economist said – so be it.

* Kgalema Motlanthe is Secretary General of the ANC (African National Congress).