Symposium on Unbroken Bond: Tracing the Ties Between African and Palestinian Anti-Colonial Struggles – The Political Economy of Suffering: Who Profits from Global South Conflicts?

[Sanjana Ragu is an Bachelor of Laws graduate from Strathmore University and currrenly works as a trainee lawyer at Anjarwalla & Khanna]

Be it Palestine in the East, or Sudan in the South, in the chessboard of global politics and economy, the suffering of the Global South is often a pawn, sacrificed for strategic advantage. This wretched reality becomes apparent once the profiteers of any conflict are exposed. Accepting the premise that wars and conflict emanate from a confluence of events, this essay looks at the political economy dimension of the same. That is, this article explores the unsettling idea that strong economic motivations motivate oppressive powers to increase internecine hostilities in the Global South. By examining how these oppressive powers profit from these conflicts, this piece reveals an agenda of placing mammon over people, trumping humanitarian concerns and, much like a chess master, immolating pieces to secure a victory. In doing so, the piece will draw connections between African suffering and Palestinian suffering. Each scenario identifies the profiteers from each country.

To fully appreciate the opinions expressed herein, it is essential to reflect on racial capitalism. Initially developed by South African anti-capitalists to critique the financial interests that undergirded the apartheid regime in South Africa, they revealed the ways racisim against the indigenous population was instrumental in furthering capitalism in the country. Later developed into a concept by Cedric Robinson, he posited that racialised exploitation and capital accumulation are mutually reinforcing: “the development, organization and expansion of capitalist society pursued essentially racial directions.” He further explained that “[c]apitalism and racism were historical concomitants. As the executors of an expansionist world system, capitalists required racism in order to police and rationalise the exploitation of workers.” This can be observed clearly with the cotton farms in colonial African countries, where the exploitation of labour was brutal while the consequent economic benefits were formidable (or, perhaps, the profits were formidable because the exploitation was brutal). 

Decades after the successful fight for “political” decolonisation, we are still witnessing the repetition of history. As forewarned by Kwame Nkrumah, colonialism has morphed into neo-colonialism, and the suffering of countries in the Global South persists. As asserted by Robin D Kelley, capitalism and racism, produced a modern world system of ‘racial capitalism’ dependent on slavery, violence, imperialism, and genocide.” These words ring true today, as we witness slavery, violence, imperialism, and genocide applied against peoples in the Global Souths as oppressive tools informed by a capitalistic teleology. 

Cobalt, Congo and Cruelty: Resource Exploitation 

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) boasts an astonishing 70 percent of the global reserves of cobalt. In today’s tech-driven world, cobalt is used in nearly every sphere of life from mobile phones to cars to laptops. Ideally, this would enable the DRC to grow into an economic powerhouse that uses its natural resources to develop itself. Unfortunately, the opposite is the reality. 

The exploitation of Congolese resources and people was central to America’s early history and its rise to a superpower status. First under Belgium and Leopold, and then under the Americans, millions of Congolese lost their lives so both imperial powers could benefit from these resources. Today, China also has marked interest and control over the cobalt reserves, with China and the US engaged in a ‘proxy war’ for minerals. While superpowers duel over cobalt, the domestic population suffers. For years, the DRC has also faced grave human rights abuses resulting from the greed and economic advantages these superpowers stand to gain from their resources. Forced evictions, rape, assault, child exploitation/labour, life threatening work conditions and poor pay are just the surface of what the citizens of a resource rich country face daily.

In the age of democracy in international spaces, we might expect dynamics to shift such that Congo would not be ripe for exploitation. Instead, it could enjoy integrated partnerships with interested countries allowing both to flourish respectively. Alas, the lucrative profits that the superpowers and their multinational corporations gain from Congo remains their priority. 

Revelations from Kenya’s Recent Conflicts and Protests

The recent protests in Kenya, ignited by harsh economic conditions and the highly controversial tax bill, have exposed the dynamics of Western influence in the country’s affairs. The presence of a delegation from the US Congress during parliamentary proceedings on the tax bill raises questions about the true intentions behind their involvement. What benefits might Western powers gain from the passing of an oppressive tax bill in Kenya? Though speculative, the dynamics are disturbing and we are forced to question where Kenyan sovereignty stands. The perceived interference, at least for the Kenyan public, hints at a broader strategy where economic pressure and conflict are leveraged to maintain influence over Kenyan policymaking.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also played a crucial role in the recent conflict in Kenya. According to the initial reports, the IMF had predicted the risk of public protests and dismay resulting from the oppressive tax bill yet, it still nudged the government to make the bill law. Since deliberations began, several protestors were killed and the country witnessed a state of lawlessness from extra-judicial killings, abductions, military deployment and police brutality – all against its own citizens. While the IMF financially supports Kenya, the stringent conditions attached to this aid prioritise debt repayments over the welfare of citizens. This has led to a widespread belief among Kenyans that the IMF, heavily influenced by the US and Europe, is exacerbating their economic woes. 

Indeed, leaders of the IMF and World Bank, consistently appointed by Western powers, enforce policies that favour austerity and neoliberal economics, benefiting Western economies through cheaper exports and resource extraction. This creates a financial imbalance, as highlighted by the report from Global Justice Now, which revealed that Africa loses more money annually through tax avoidance, debt payments, and resource extraction than it receives in aid and remittances. Such dynamics cement the speculations into reality; despite being framed as supportive, the IMF’s actions serve the interests of rich Western countries, as even noted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres regarding the institutional response to the pandemic.

Drawing Parallels: Profiteers of the Palestinian Deaths 

Likewise, the ongoing genocide in Gaza has created a significant revenue stream for military contractors, who have gained immensely as the US ramped up its military support for Israel. The Pentagon has been quietly fulfilling Israel’s requests for additional military equipment, including guided missiles for Apache helicopters, night vision gear, bunker-busting bombs, and armoured vehicles. Companies like Rafael USA, who are Israeli owned with a branch in the US, are directly benefiting from these escalations, securing their profitability amidst the conflict. It is alarming that Israel is the 7th largest exporter of weapons worldwide, and its top importer is the US at $288 million as of 2021.

Beyond the direct military suppliers, numerous corporations are profiting from the genocide. Raytheon, Boeing, and BAE Systems, among others, are well-known for their extensive involvement in supplying arms and technology used in conflicts across the Middle East, including Palestine. Hewlett-Packard provides critical computer hardware and technology to the Israeli military, police, and government, facilitating the enforcement of racial segregation and apartheid against Palestinian citizens. Energy giant Chevron profits from gas extraction in the Eastern Mediterranean, providing Israel with billions in revenue and potentially exploiting Palestinian gas reserves. These corporations, driven by the imperative to maximise profits, at the cost of wiping out an entire nation of people. 

Conclusion

Congo’s independence day is 30 June 1960, Kenya’s independence day is 12 December 1963, and Palestine’s independence day is 15 November 1988. As of the conclusion of this essay, it is 3 August 2024 and independence for these countries – and many others in the Global South – is yet to be experienced. The political economy of suffering, a phrase I have formed, is key to understanding the question the Global South must ask itself in every conflagration: cui bono or who benefits from the spilling of Third World blood? The answer to this question will, more often than not, help these countries better understand their plight. 

And how are we to deal with these profiteers? Boycott, first, and abolition, second, essential topics for future research and critique by African and Palestinian activists.