America has Become an Abusive Alcoholic who can Barely Mumble a Coherent Sentence
The entourage of countries that sniff the vapors of the West's long past glory days keeps getting smaller
Today, I encountered a compelling analogy that likened the dynamic between the Global South and America to the relationship between Tina Turner and her former abusive husband. In the tale of Tina Turner's rise to emancipation, as dramatized in "What's Love Got to Do With It," we find a powerful allegory for the current geopolitical dynamics between America and the Global South. The film portrays the saga of a woman whose radiant talent and indomitable spirit are shackled by the controlling and abusive Ike Turner. This narrative resonates with stark clarity as a reflection of the historical and ongoing exploitation of the Global South by American hegemony.
The Seductive Beginnings
The narrative begins with an intoxicating illusion of mutual benefit and progress. Ike Turner, with his magnetic charm, draws in the young and talented Tina, just as America once drew the Global South into its orbit, promising modernization and shared prosperity. Instead, what unfolds is a story of subjugation, where the fruits of labor and natural resources of the Global South have been commandeered to fuel the opulence of American life.
Much like Tina's initial reverence for Ike, the Global South held America in an almost mythic esteem, aspiring to the mirage of the American Dream. Yet, beneath the veneer of benevolence, there was a cycle of coercion and exploitation, a relationship where one partner's ascendancy was predicated on the other's subjugation.
The Moment of Realization
The film reaches its crescendo with Tina Turner's epiphany. She sees Ike's façade crumble, revealing the tyrant beneath the surface. This moment is emblematic of the awakening happening across the Global South. The once-vaunted image of America, the land of liberty and justice, is now seen as a carefully constructed façade masking a reality of interventionist policies, warfare and economic imperialism.
As Tina's realization sparked her quest for self-determination, nations and peoples of the Global South are now asserting their sovereignty and demanding equitable relations on the world stage. They no longer accept the paternalistic narratives that justify intervention and control under the guise of ‘development’ and ‘democracy’.
Breaking Free from the Cycle
The separation of Tina from Ike is fraught with peril, yet it is a necessary step towards self-actualization. Similarly, the Global South's efforts to extricate itself from the grasp of American control is a dangerous journey, but one that is essential for true autonomy and self-determination. The push for decolonization of economies and the dismantling of neocolonial structures is the modern-day equivalent of Tina's flight to freedom.
America's rhetoric, which frames countries like China as threats, is increasingly falling on deaf ears. The Global South, along with a growing number of Americans, recognizes the hollowness of such claims, seeking instead a path of peace and mutual respect.
A New Solidarity
The American people, many of whom resonate with Tina's struggle, are beginning to question the actions of their government. They are aligning themselves not with the symbols of their nation, but with the foundational ideals it claims to represent—ideals that are lived out more genuinely by the nations of the Global South.
This solidarity is finding expression in various ways, including the growing sentiment among Americans who support invoking Article 6 against the United States to challenge its unwarranted influence in the United Nations. The betrayal felt by those who genuinely believed in the values espoused by their country is palpable, and their eyes are turning to communities and nations that live by those values in practice, rather than in mere rhetoric.
The Quest for True Principles
The search for authenticity is leading many to look beyond America's promises to the communities and nations that embody true justice, equality, and respect for sovereignty. This shift is away from a hollow nationalism towards a global fraternity that seeks to realize the values America has long espoused but seldom practiced.
As the global audience looks on, America's once formidable stature, reminiscent of Ike Turner's illusory grandeur, is unmasked as mere theatrics—a man behind a curtain. It stands as an abusive alcoholic grappling with Korsakoff syndrome, its cognitive faculties withering from the excesses of addictive consumption, emblematic of a bygone era fading into obsolescence.
In the aftermath, as Tina Turner stepped into the light of her own making, the Global South and its allies move towards creating a new narrative—one that reflects their own aspirations, free from the oppressive shadow of a fading hegemon.
The story of Tina Turner is not just a tale of personal triumph; it is a parable for the Global South—a story of finding one's voice, reclaiming agency, and the unwavering pursuit of dignity and respect in the face of a world that often seems to offer neither.
— Karim Bettache.