[dalbasal]

I agree.

That said, I think this type of quasi-conspiratorial narrative building (like parent) tends to exist because there is no credible good guy theory currently.

Flawed as it was the 90s neoliberalish, globalish ideology was... at least it was an ideology. It had a a sense of good and bad. It had some promises of better futures. Etc.

What we have now is "stuff happens, sometimes that sucks."

[elliekelly]

> What we have now is "stuff happens, sometimes that sucks."

I think this is exactly the scenario where conspiracy theories thrive. It’s really hard for people to accept that stuff happens and sometimes that sucks. We need to assign a “reason”. Preferably a reason that makes us feel like it wouldn’t or couldn’t happen to us.

[dalbasal]

I didn't mean that, quite.

I meant, there isn't a current ideological rationale for trade/development/etc. There isn't a vision for where it leads. Etc.

I mentioned 90s neliberalism-ish policies. Well... those were a promise of a better world. So was communism, democratic socialism, etc. They had visions of the future. Rationales for how things get better.

Now... There isn't. Trade or security are just about trade and security. They aren't part of a bigger whole. They aren't about a vision for anything. There's no reassurance that this is good for Africans, or even for Americans. It just is.

[inawarminister]

Islamism, as mentioned up thread, is a powerful ideology that is thriving.

There's also social justice and related movements in the West, but that's internal ideological development in liberalism, not something that can be sold to the world.

China's brand of profit-oriented authoritarianism state capitalism is also spreading around the world, though. Including Africa.