The attitude of Western countries to Israel’s response to the Hamas attack has heightened perceptions of Western double standards in the Global South. The comparison between the way Russia shouts against the illegal occupation of territories and the harm it is inflicting on civilians in Ukraine and the arguments used to respond to Israel’s actions raises eyebrows in emerging and developing countries a widespread feeling of hypocrisy on the part of the Western powers.
Of course, neither the Western position is monolithic, nor is that of the Global South – a definition that encapsulates a heterogeneous group – nor are the two conflicts equivalent. But there are numerous factual elements that create this sense of Western duplicity in the rest of the world (and in their own societies). This trend is a tangible fact – regardless of the extent to which it is justified – and represents a serious setback for a West that has long sought to strengthen ties with countries of the Global South amid great competition between powers, including maneuvers, to win the favor of this nebula of nations.
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The Western position is neither static nor clear. Over the weeks in which the Israeli response has caused enormous harm to civilians in Gaza, Westerners have changed their tone and position. The United States, a major supporter of Israel, passed a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire without condemning the Hamas attack, and there are countries – such as Spain, Belgium or Ireland – that have clearly criticized the Netanyahu government have expressed. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, also made clear statements. But for many, the turnaround in key countries – such as the US, Germany, the UK and Italy – is late and very inadequate. And some images – like that of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who traveled to Israel to express her full support when the bombings were already brutal and had no interest in meeting with the Palestinian Authority – are very difficult to erase .
“The Western position is becoming less monolithic. “But the initial hesitation to criticize the suffering inflicted on Palestinian civilians, which soon appeared to be massive, has created a sense of hypocrisy in the West in the Global South, a perception that it is not applying international law universally, but rather selectively,” he comments to Oliver Stuenkel, professor at the School of International Relations at the Brazilian Getúlio Vargas Foundation.
“There is currently the impression of double standards in relation to Gaza, but also in general, before the current outbreak of violence, in relation to the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “In my view, these perceptions are largely justified and are reinforced by comparison with Europe’s response to the Russian war in Ukraine,” says Hugh Lovatt, senior expert on the Middle East, international law and armed conflict at the Council. European foreign affairs.
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“Every conflict has its own characteristics. But from an international law perspective there are clear parallels [entre Ucrania y Gaza]“not only in terms of the requirements to minimize harm to civilians, but also in terms of the inadmissibility of violent seizure of territory,” Lovatt continues.
One reason the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are different is that Russia did not suffer an attack, while Israel responded to one. However, international law always requires a distinction between military and civilian targets. Collective punishment is a crime. According to many experts, the extent of the destruction caused by the Israeli bombing raids and the indiscriminate blockage of water, electricity, food and medicine supplies, with a few exceptions, paint a picture with signs of criminality. There are also many reasons that consider the Israeli occupation of Palestine illegal.
“The Europeans are right to denounce Ukraine’s actions in Russia. However, when you see similar scenes regarding the suffering of civilians in Gaza and the reaction is not the same; “It feeds the impression of double standards and weakens Europe, which has defined itself as a defender of certain values and has often given the impression of teaching others lessons on this matter, but which then does not always appear coherent,” he says. Lovatt.
A story that takes place
The current episode is particularly relevant because of the history in which it takes place. It is not isolated. “The war in Gaza has given new substance to the West’s perception of double standards, but it did not begin with this crisis,” adds Stuenkel. Although the illegal invasion of Iraq led by the United States in 2003 and with the support of other Western countries – although not all – is the most frequently cited example; There are deeper historical roots that play a role in the present and that have to do with colonialism.
“A significant portion of leaders and voters in the Global South view the war in Gaza through the prism of colonizer versus colonized logic,” Stuenkel says. “It would be an exaggeration to think that anti-colonial sentiment is crucial to the strategies of these countries, but it is undoubtedly one of the elements through which they build their vision of the world.” Its weight varies depending on the region; In West Africa, for example, it is particularly pronounced and Russia was able to make good use of it. In any case, Western observers should take this into account,” he concludes.
The reference to the actions of Russia, which is adept at spreading and manipulating narratives that benefit its interests at the international level, highlights the risks of the West’s perceived double standards in global great power competition.
Connections to China, Russia and India
In this competition, each of the major poles seeks to strengthen ties with the countries of the southern hemisphere in order to strengthen its position compared to the others. China has been doing this for decades, using economic-technological leverage, with credit, trade, building infrastructure and providing technological services. Russia is trying to do this by providing security services, selling weapons (the war in Ukraine now makes this path difficult) or through propaganda. India is becoming increasingly involved at the political level and is trying to emerge as an independent actor capable of truthfully representing the interests of this diverse group.
“There is no doubt that the West has lost influence in the Global South over the last two decades, particularly due to the increase in China’s political and economic influence, which is accompanied by a general shift in economic weight towards East Asia,” says Stuenkel .
“The world is moving away from the situation of US hegemony and towards a multipolar panorama. This is particularly true in the Middle East and North Africa. European governments have been slow to adapt to this changing reality. The key lies in division, in the persistent pursuit of national interests rather than collective action. Regional players took advantage of the new situation more quickly,” notes Lovatt.
The West has been slow to recognize the importance of maintaining relations with this part of the world and is trying to catch up. Part of this strategy includes, for example, the projects to promote a transport, energy and digital corridor between India and Europe and another, less ambitious corridor in West Africa, both of which were announced at the G-20 summit last September.
The first, which should have happened via Israel, is jeopardized by the current conflict. Other initiatives with a similar logic – such as those under the EU’s Global Gateway funding project – remain largely in limbo, while China has already poured $1 trillion into the Belt and Road Initiative in a decade. Route.
“However, if you look at a country like Brazil, the EU or the USA continue to invest more than China, and the G-7 invests more than the other BRICS partners,” says Stünkel. “Specifically, the EU has lost a lot of influence, but if the free trade agreement with Mercosur were ratified, it could at least partially recover,” he continues. “Despite the challenges, what Europe can achieve should not be underestimated. He is an actor of great economic weight. In North Africa in particular, it will not be replaced by China and Russia,” argues Lovatt.
The perceived double standards in the Gaza crisis are a serious setback because they create a negative image in the public opinion of many countries, some of which are already far from the Western sphere. This is an important factor. However, it is not final. There is ample evidence that amid the great competition between powers in the Northern Hemisphere, many in the South are trying to figure out what is best for them and are making decisions like many of the previous ones: more based on interests than values.
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