Throughout history, clumsy and incapable governments have tried to explain away their mistakes in domestic policy as the result of the influence of “foreign forces.” Just take a look at recent events in neighboring countries to see proof of this tendency.
Russia:
The Kremlin has tied its own systemic problems to the influence of the ‘repellent West’ for many years now, creating the image of an ‘absolute foreign enemy.’ While this image changes in content from time to time – Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey – the West always has its hand in these matters, according to the Kremlin. The source of all Russia’s troubles is the West. This policy is built on serious propaganda, and it serves to distract the attention of the nation from serious internal problems.
Turkey:
Recently, the idea of “foreign powers wanting to destroy the country” has become stronger than ever, simultaneously debilitating the country itself. Even the depreciation of the the lira has been ascribed to foreign plots and powers. Despite the fact that hundreds of companies have been recently nationalized, thousands of businessmen arrested, and government deprived the Central Bank of its freedom during the last year, thus forcing internal and external investors to escape the country . .. Of course the lira was going to lose its value. But all of this is presented as the “machinations of foreign powers”, and the people believe it.
Azerbaijan:
Russia and Turkey controls 70 – 75 percent of our information and television space and their propaganda influences people. It has been years that our local television has been placing the responsibility of all our problems on “foreign powers” and neighboring countries according to government propaganda. They ascribe our problems to our geographical position, the interests of foreign countries. Are the interests of foreign countries really at play here? Of course they are. For example, our most vulnerable issue, Karabakh, is definitely shaped by foreign influence, however:
- Does the Kremlin not allow for decent education in the country?
- Did Obama order our courts to make unjust and unfair decisions?
- Maybe Europe is against the idea of allowing us to have a reliable and effective health-care system?
- Or is it Iran that has decided to destroy the budget, to encourage bribe-taking and turn the country into one giant monopoly?
- Ankara, perhaps, is insisting on expensive and low quality utility services in the country…?
I don’t know what others think, but I’d say it’s our own, local “black powers” that are dragging and sucking the wealth out of the country and considering their own people as outsiders, as second – class.
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Editor: This article reflects the opinion of the author and as such may not reflect that of Meydan TV
