These findings have caused some surprise and even anger in the West. It’s difficult for Western thought leaders to comprehend that two-thirds of the world’s population is just not lining up with the West in this conflict. However, I believe there are five reasons why the Global South is not taking the West’s side. I discuss these reasons in the short essay below.

Over the past year the number of countries actively condemning Russia has fallen from 131 to 122, as some emerging economies have shifted to a neutral position. This US- and EU-led bloc, which represents about 36% of the global population, has exhibited a strong level of collaboration on sanctions, as well as solid military and economic support to Ukraine.

U.S. officials point out that 141 of 193 countries at the United Nations voted to condemn Russia after the invasion and that 143 voted in October to censure the Kremlin’s announced annexation of parts of Ukraine. But only 33 countries have imposed sanctions on Russia, and a similar number are sending lethal aid to Ukraine.

The reality of the situation is that the west finds itself completely isolated.

[–] sweng@programming.dev 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ah, you define support as "not actively opposed"? That is an incredibly low bar.

Again, the UN vote clearly shows that the countries don't support Russia or think what the country does is right.

The fact that poor countries arw in no position to sanction anyone does not mean they support Russia.

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I define support in tangible terms. The only countries that took any actual action against Russia are burgerland and its vassals. The action the rest of the world has been taking is to increase trade with Russia and to masively apply to BRICS.

The UN vote doesn't show much of anything, especially given that most populous countries abstained. If you think that poor countries support the west over Russia after what the west has been doing to them, then you're utterly delusional. Maybe you should ask yourself why African countries are kicking out the west with Russian help.

[–] sweng@programming.dev 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If you think that poor countries support the west over Russia after what the west has been doing to them, then you’re utterly delusional. M

I'm not, and nowhere did I claim that. I said they don't support Russia. What kind of depressing world do you live in where you have to support either the West or Russia. Countries are free to do their own thing, and do not need to support either. To spell it out: A country can oppose Russia, while at the same time also not support the West.

The UN resolution clearly shows: The vssz majority of countries, including the global south, think what Russia is doing is wrong. Many of them continue to trade with Russia despite the attack on Ukraine, not because of it. It should come as no surprise that especially poorer coutries can not pick and choose who they trade with.

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's pretty obvious from all the actions the global majority countries have taken that they do in fact support Russia. And the reason they support Russia is very simple, they understand why this war started and which party is the problem.

The UN resolution clearly shows: The vssz majority of countries, including the global south, think what Russia is doing is wrong.

Except that it doesn't show anything of the sort. You can repeat this until you're blue in the face, it won't make it true. In fact, even educated people in the west know who is doing wrong. People like Chomsky, Mearsheimer, and many others have explained in great detail how the west is responsible for what's happening in Ukraine. Just a couple of examples

This is well understood by anybody who hasn't been brainwashed by western media for the past two years.

[–] sweng@programming.dev 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It’s pretty obvious from all the actions the global majority countries have taken that they do in fact support Russia

Is that why they keep codemning Russia in various UN resolutions? The numbers speak for themselves.

It does't matter if educated westeners think Russia is right: that's not what's being discussed. Unless you think the opinions of white westeners like Chomsky override the actual position of poorer countries? "Oh, Chomsky agrees with Russia? Sorry Botswana, you have to also support Russia now, Chomsky said so. Better fire your UN ambassador, they forgot to ask Chomsky what he thought, before voting to condemn Russia".

I haven't heard anything so patronizing and colonoalistic in a long time.

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Is that why they keep codemning Russia in various UN resolutions? The numbers speak for themselves.

Except they're not doing that, the global majority countries are at best abstaining. And the only reason they're doing that is not to piss off the US further. Go look up where most people in the world actually live.

It does’t matter if educated westeners think Russia is right: that’s not what’s being discussed.

What educated westerners think matches what people living outside the west think.

I haven’t heard anything so patronizing and colonoalistic in a long time.

That's because all you've got is a straw man that has nothing to do with what I was saying. What was actually said to you is that even educated people in the west understand what the rest of the world understands. You just flipped that around because you're intellectually dishonest.

[–] sweng@programming.dev 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What educated westerners think matches what people living outside the west think.

Wow, just wow. So we don't actually need to ask e.g indiginous people of their opinions, it's enough to ask "educated westeners". Which century are we living in?

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Wow, just wow. So we don’t actually need to ask e.g indiginous people of their opinions, it’s enough to ask “educated westeners”. Which century are we living in?

Really need to work on your reading comprehension there. This is frankly embarrassing. Let me try using simpler language that you might have a hope of understanding.

The people in the global south, e.g. indigenous people, have opinions that are entirely independent of what ignoramuses in the west think. Their majority opinion aligns with Russia.

However, a handful of educated westerners are able to reach this same understanding that the rest of the world has instead of just guzzling propaganda the way people such as yourself do.

Let me know if you're still struggling with this and need me to chew it up for you a bit more.

[–] sweng@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Why are you bringing up westeners at all, as if that somehow strengthens the point? It reveals your inner biases. "The opinions of the south is not enough, I have to bring in westeners to give my argument some weight".

Sometimes peple reveal more than they intended when they write.

Their majority opinion aligns with Russia.

You keep repeating that, but the data does not support it.

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago

I'm bringing up westerners to illustrate that this position isn't controversial for anybody who has a clue. Since people in the west have been the primary subjects of western propaganda about the conflict, it's remarkable that there are people in the west who are able to see past that.

Sometimes peple reveal more than they intended when they write.

You certainly are doing that here.

You keep repeating that, but the data does not support it.

It does, but it's obvious that you'll never acknowledge that.