Ian Buruma on The Colonial Trap

Published: Oct. 6, 2021, 6:35 p.m.

b'(10/6/21)\\u201cWhatever the justification for foreign intervention, the results are the same,\\u201d Ian Buruma writes in his Project Syndicate op-ed The Colonial Trap. \\u201cDependency\\u2014not just on another state, but on NGOs and other well-meaning institutions that do what governments should be doing\\u2014fuels corruption\\u2026The colonial elites, bloated with free money, have no legitimacy in the eyes of their compatriots. Rebels and revolutionaries may have more, but only know how to rule by force. The imperial power is trapped. Leaving is almost always bad. Staying is worse.\\u201d Join us for a look at whether the current administration can avoid the foreign policy mistakes of the past in this installment of Leonard Lopate at Large on WBAI.'