NOTE: in this blog, I did not touch on the issue of non-US coloniser countries and people of colours living in such countries to focus on formerly colonised countries and their current local economies.
Every time I hear someone saying something like ’We have our products made in such and such country, empowering the local working community because we are in love with those people since one of us went back-packing there’, I am a little confused, to put it politely. It is basically saying ‘I am paying them better than THEIR local average (which is lower than OUR local wage) because I am conscious’. If I may also add my wildest and most judgemental assumptions, there is underlying arrogance to think that some local economies are smaller than ours because people there are not as productive, or local culture is not sophisticated enough to liberate the labour force (ie. women). Let’s face it. I am sure it is not just my assumption. That’s ‘at least’ (am polite again here) some of what we think in this part of the world and this is nothing but racism.
True reason of some local economies smaller lies nowhere but in history of colonialism.
At the moment, race issues in the United States have been the focus of attention. In history, United States had a big land but not enough people to work in. So they went to captivate people from other lands and forced them to go there and work as slaves.
Meanwhile other countries only had small lands and little resources so went to other countries, colonise them, deprive them of resources and enslaved the local people. Resources were brought to colonisers, ‘empowering’ THEM to build large economies which now pay their people higher wages. By the time explicit colonisation was regarded ‘not so good’ and nominal independence was granted to the colonised countries, the local economies there were left with nothing. Colonisers might have left or started distancing themselves but no compensation for the exploitation done in the past. If you are caught stealing, you are not just removed fro the victims. You have to pay back by law. What happened here?
These countries have smaller economies/lower wages because they fell victim of systematic robberies and never got compensated. To go there from the bigger economical zones, pay them slightly more than local average and say ‘We empower’ while enjoying the gap between their local wage and our wage as business profit is result of such ignorance, arrogance and unfairness, which can also be called ‘privileges’ nowadays. The approach is exactly the same as colonisers who invaded other countries based on greed and wrong idea that they are somehow superior (=racism).
Before we make up for the exploitation to date, there is no way we are allowed to work with these countries on equal terms (ie fair trade). And in order to make up for the exploitation, we must invest until these local economies grow to the same size as ours. And this is not discretionary merciful ‘empowerment’. It is called ‘reparation’ which is mandatory.
There is a big spin to make us believe the concept of reparation is such a radical idea. Yes, these days, if you seek justice, you are deemed 'controversial’. Bravo corporate media funded by millionaires and billionaires.
Some Northern European royal family members have been active in this ‘micro credit’ initiative things saying ‘Just throwing money into these regions does no good for working morale of these (lazy, let’s face it, that’s what they think) people. Let’s make them pay back the money to keep them on the toes.
How can this possibly an idea? Dishonesty and unfairness drive me crazy.
Before expecting them to pay back micro credits, what about their BIG CREDIT they should pay back to these economic regions and people??
Because these regions and people are not physically close to us, we are much less confronted with these issues, whereas currently in US, confrontation is much more intense as the oppressors and the oppresses in much larger numbers are literally living in the same land. However, the underlyinng issues are exactly the same and equally brutal. Let’s imagine that, and realise that the post-colonial issues are as dire as BLM.
Way forward with this economic inequality which is closely linked to race inequality is to adequately compensate the victims on political/govermental levels. Until then, each one of us on a personal and corporate levels must acknowledge reality correctly and not further exploit these regions and their people.
