JUST PHILOSOPHISING - ON SOUTH AFRICA AND THE POST-LIBERATION PARADOX OR CURSE.! PART .3.

Look to Nicaragua, to Venezuela, to Zimbabwe, to Angola, to some extent, Cuba, et al. And you are confronted with examples of how things should not have been, instead of what they should have been. 

The world is repleted with failure and betrayal of the people by the leaders of the liberation movements. 

Why, because there is so much more to nation building than 'freeing' the people from the current oppressive elites. 

Too often the people find that they have, indeed, apparently been 'freed' from one oppressor.  

Only for the elites of the liberation movement to secrete themselves into the now vacant positions and seats of the previous oppressors. 

And, for all intents and purposes, as the saying goes, continue with the business of the elites keeping themselves in power and making massive amounted of money, by oppressing and exploiting the people. 

Power, political power, does not only corrupt its incumbents into making money.  But also in seducing them to betray any virtues which their liberation movement had. 

Power is a no respecter of political ideology, at least, in much of what we have seen of its display in the 'developing countries.' 

All forms of power requires their wielder to display pragmatism when it finds itself being challenged, if the incumbent is to remain in place. 

Those incumbents who prove incapable of or unwilling to exercise such necessary pragmatism.  

When faced with having to choose between unattainable or pyrrhic 'political idealism' and 'reality', are likely to find themselves being overthrown, or leading their countries to ruin. 

Feeling compelled to take the 'reality' option, many post-liberation leaders simply resort to looking out for themselves and their families and close compatriots. 

And become probably more corrupt that the worst of the corrupt oppressors whom they displaced.

To be continued!