As I continue to think about the politics of representation in capitalist liberal democracies, the same disingenuous machinations are at play in India. Here we have the mighty ultra right wing BJP propping up a tribal woman as President. Through this, they are able to show case a so-called nod to diversity all the while indirectly and indirectly promoting erosion of Muslim rights, both in the present and the past by demonising Muslim citizens, demonising Mughal history and civilisation as colonial invaders, all the while promoting cow vigilantism, denigrating women, jailing activists, demolishing their homes, imprisoning Kashmiris, you name it.
But this gesture , creates a diversion. BJP state and supporters have this to use if anyone accuses them of anything.
Similarly, right wing regimes in capitalist democracies in the West recruit black and brown woman and men to their structures. They claim they are inherently plural because they have representations in their parties, in their state and society. They can create confusion and doubt: "Of course, they are not racist." Even if policies are inherently racist, rooted in the system, the public is misled to believe right wing groups are not racist. Further, the recruited black and brown woman and and man has internalised enough racism and capitalist ideology and, continues to perform the work of an inherently violent system.
The so-called left parties in the United States , New Zealand , Canada, what have you, play representational politics - not to rock the bottom but to the game of tokenism, to appear diverse. They will never call for reparations, real historical justice. They will merely celebrate "first Indigenous member of Cabinet", "first black President, " etc. Moreover, those who are recruited to their structures, to the state are also fully internalised, obedient men and women who will perform in inherently white systems.
Have you noticed they never say 43'rd White Man elected as President of the United States? Kamala was somehow the first black female VP but the headline that Mike Pence was 44th white VP was never made.
I remember being utterly non plussed when some headlines were made with Jacina Arden's rule as New Zealand's Prime Minister: that she had the most diverse cabinet ever and had the first Indigenous Foreign Minister. Headlines never say "first Indigenous minister after 40 white ones."
Absorbing indigenous and non-white representers at this glacial speed into inherently racist, colonial, violent and white systems is unimpressive to say the least. At this rate, it will take another 1000 years to see more diversity but how long will it take to get justice, reparations? It will take never.
Is the objective to just get a colourful display? This is not the way to measure progress.
Just look at how - as I literally type this - Shireen Abu Akleh's family is pleading with the United States state and society to get some justice. They are holding a press conference in full view of the mighty apparatus of American democracy , demanding justice as American citizens, demanding an investigation. It's painful to see them, respectfully demanding justice, careful not to unleash what must only be rage and pain, careful to remind everyone they love the United States, lecturing about the value of journalism to a democracy. It's painful to see the motions they have to go through. It's painful to see them begging for justice from a state which calls itself as the greatest beacon of freedom and democracy.
It's a tragic example of how little value and worth Palestinians are to the American Democracy Machine. Shireen was not recruited for representational politics and has no value either to Democrats or Republicans: she didn't perform any useful role for the system. Justice for her death is not a priority or even a concern!
What is a concern? Nancy Pelosi 's ass wants to go to Taiwan to uphold democracy and stick it to the Chinese.
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