Legacies of the cold war

[Martin Y]

During the Cold War the West did have a habit of labelling liberation movements as "communist" whether they were or not. ANC was a classic case but I don't recall their mass nationalisations when they finally took power,

I think the traditional label "freedom fighters" was available if they were anti-communist.

When in reality it was the anti-fascist forces that were the true freedom fighters.

I was of course being ironic. They're freedom fighters if they're on your side and terrorists if they're not.

[Woodchopper]

During the Cold War the West did have a habit of labelling liberation movements as "communist" whether they were or not. ANC was a classic case but I don't recall their mass nationalisations when they finally took power,

I agree in general but in that example Mandela and Tambo were members of the Communist Party of South Africa, and the ANC was (and is) formally allied with the CPSA. Though as you write, they didn’t behave like communists when they were in power.

[Herainestold]

During the Cold War the West did have a habit of labelling liberation movements as "communist" whether they were or not. ANC was a classic case but I don't recall their mass nationalisations when they finally took power,

I agree in general but in that example Mandela and Tambo were members of the Communist Party of South Africa, and the ANC was (and is) formally allied with the CPSA. Though as you write, they didn’t behave like communists when they were in power.

And maybe if they had nationalized strategic industries, things would be better in SA now.

[noggins]

And maybe if they had nationalized strategic industries, things would be better in SA now.

Which industries would that be? What would you add? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-own ... uth_Africa

[Herainestold]

I'm assuming JQH couldn't remember all the nationalisations when the ANC gained power, because key industries were all already nationalized.
They just need to do internet and Social Media, facebook, google, etc. and they will be done.

[JQH]

I'm assuming JQH couldn't remember all the nationalisations when the ANC gained power, because key industries were all already nationalized.
They just need to do internet and Social Media, facebook, google, etc. and they will be done.

The mines are still mostly in corporate hands.

You really think the ANC will nationalise the internet search engines and social media? Seriously? Or do you think the Economic Freedom Fighters are about to form a government?

[dyqik]

I'm assuming JQH couldn't remember all the nationalisations when the ANC gained power, because key industries were all already nationalized.
They just need to do internet and Social Media, facebook, google, etc. and they will be done.

The mines are still mostly in corporate hands.

You really think the ANC will nationalise the internet search engines and social media? Seriously? Or do you think the Economic Freedom Fighters are about to form a government?

How broken do you have to be to think that direct government control of social media and its censorship is good for anyone except oligarchs and dictators?