the tweet:
https://twitter.com/GabrielRockhill/status/1699957902335746434#m
zizek’s paywalled article:
The quote in question:
However, it is clear that the “anti-colonial” uprisings in Central Africa are even worse than French neocolonialism. The future they bring is that of failed states like Zimbabwe and Myanmar: authoritarian military rule; economic regression into new lows of poverty that profit only the new and corrupt elite; ideological fundamentalism combined with a pushback against “colonial” influences like gay rights.
Regarding Zimbabwe: This is a funny example for Zizek to use since Zimbabwe is largely impoverished because of western neocolonial IMF loans:
Regarding the narrative that LGBT rights are colonial. Obviously that is bullshit and it’s interesting that both Russia and NATO liberals are pushing it, but for opposite reasons. Liberals in NATO countries are pushing it because it wants to be seen as the global vanguard of LGBT rights, when they are not, and never have been. Russia is pushing it because it wants to be seen as the vanguard of (for lack of a better term) “social conservatism” and “tradition” protecting the global south from “western decadence” or whatever other reactionary nonsense.
Pol Pot was one of the most destructive leaders in world history [relative to the power available to him], but in the very early stages was a historically progressive force compared to French colonialism. The PRC wildly mishandled Cambodia and Vietnam after France was expelled, but it made sense in the initial stages to back the most powerful movement for Cambodian sovereignty.
China should have taken severe measures against them rather than Vietnam afterwards, though.