Rational approach to counter, not dismiss, resurgent lunatic fringe

By Alec Hogg.LONDON – For some reason, fake news cretins keep peppering me with their propaganda. Yesterday something arrived saying President Jacob Zuma has begun a roadshow to explain the importance of BRICS to citizens. You know, the loose political grouping of which South Africa is the appendage..Zuma's mission started with an address to 3 000 loyalists in his home province. He intends repulsing the attempt by "President Obama and his paymasters in Buckingham Palace" to break up BRICS. Emphasising the danger by pointing to the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.For the rational mind, such delusional nonsense is swiftly dispatched to where it belongs. But the rational is no longer automatically prevailing. The more convoluted the theory, the readier some ears. Especially among suspicious intimates from backwaters, like the sycophants of the one-time Zulu goat herder..What is happening in South Africa illustrates a broader malaise sweeping the world..For most of the last quarter century – since the collapse of the Berlin Wall proclaimed the end of communism – the world has operated on a Western-led, rules-based system of global governance..For instance, draconian laws were passed in the West enforcing the criminal prosecution of citizens or corporations engaging in corruption anywhere on earth. That proved a powerful deterrent for major multinationals who previously wrote off bribes as a cost of doing business in developing countries..This liberalised, rules-based approach is evident in many other areas – from balancing trading relationships through the WTO, to projects to eradicate poverty in the UN, global deals on addressing climate change or anti-money laundering and taxation agreements..But this cornerstone of progressive modern society is under attack. Partly because memories are short, so populist leaders have resorted to nationalistic rhetoric about reclaiming sovereignty to fight side-effects of globalisation. But also because of a darker agenda..The attack on globalisation is no longer news. After Brexit and Trump, we're pretty much aware of the renewed vigour of "tree" people over "canoe" people – the victory of the inwardly-focused, sedentary slice of humanity over their adventurous, horizon-seeking cousins..But we also need to pay attention to those gaming the system..Zuma's pro-BRICS roadshow provides a great example..There's an instructive video on Biznews right now. After a six month international investigation, a team from Al Jazeera produced an explosive half hour expose' on how Asian criminals are profiting from the destruction of endangered African animals..It provides clear footage with overwhelming evidence of Chinese businessmen based in SA who are doing a roaring trade in rhino horn, elephant ivory, pangolin, perlemoen and other long banned products..The tentacles of this illicit trade stretch up to senior members of the Chinese Government, including officials who accompanied President Xi on his recent State Visit to SA..In a rules-based society, this evidence would immediately be used by law enforcement authorities to arrest the criminals identified by the report video..Indeed, there is enough in the Al Jazeera report to spark an international incident between South Africa and China..Instead, the criminals continue their trade. And Zuma goes on a crusade to defend the very allies who are plundering his national resources..It is convenient to dismiss this as an isolated example of an African leader who judges himself against others from the continent, bewailing his relative powerlessness and modest means when comparing it with that of his African Union peers..But the malaise is a lot deeper. Zuma is becoming the rule rather than the exception. And the control of information has become the new battleground. Best we remember that and counter rather than dismiss what we used to dismiss as the lunatic fringe.

Rational approach to counter, not dismiss, resurgent lunatic fringe

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