wretched-of-the-earth-frantz-fanon

,40THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTHpractice anticolonialism in the same way the French colonelsin Algeria engaged in counter-terrorism with the SAS (SectionsAdministratives Speciales) or psychological warfare. They "usedthe people against the people." We know where that got them.This threatening atmosphere of violence and missiles in noway frightens or disorients the colonized. We have seen that theirentire recent history has prepared them to "understand" the situation.Between colonial violence and the insidious violence inwhich the modern world is steeped, there is a kind of compEcitcorrelation, a homogeneity. The colonized have adapted to thisatmosphere. For once they are in tune with their time. Peopleare sometimes surprised that, instead of buying a dress for theirwife, the colonized buy a transistor radio. They shouldn't be. Thecolonized are convinced their fate is in the balance. They livein a doomsday atmosphere and nothing must elude them. Thisis why they fully understand Phouma and Phoumi, Lumumbaand Tschombe, Ahidjo and Moumie, Kenyatta and those introducedfrom time to time to replace him. They fully understandall these men because they are able to unmask the forces behindthem. The colonized, underdeveloped man is today a politicalcreature in the most global sense of the term.Independence has certainly brought the colonized peoplesmoral reparation and recognized their dignity. But they havenot yet had time to elaborate a society or build and ascertainvalues. The glowing focal point where the citizen and individualdevelop and mature in a growing number of areas doesnot yet exist. Situated in a kind of indeterminate state they havefairly quickly convinced themselves that everything is decidedelsewhere for everyone at the same time. As for the leaders,when confronted with such a situation, they hesitate and choosea policy of neutrality.There is much to be said on the subject of neutrality. Someliken it to a kind of loathsome mercantilism which consists ofON VIOLENCEtaking handouts left and right. But although neutrality, a creationof the cold war, allows underdeveloped countries to receive economicaid from both sides, it does not permit either of these twosides to corne to the aid of underdeveloped regions the way theyshould. Those literally astronomical sums invested in arms research,these engineers transformed into technicians of nuclearwar could raise the living standards ofthe underdeveloped countriesby 60 percent in fifteen years. It is therefore obvious thatthe underdeveloped countries have no real interest in eitherprolonging or intensifying this cold war. But they are never askedfor their opinion. So whenever they can, they disengage. But canthey really do so? For example, here is France testing its atomicbombs in Mrica. Even allowing for the resolutions, the meetingsand slammings of the door on diplomatic relations, it cannot besaid that the African peoples had much impact on France's attitudein this particular sector.Neutrality produces in the citizen of the Third World an attitudeof mind which translates in everyday life to a brazenness andhieratic pride strangely resembling an act of defiance. This staunchrefusal to compromise, this sheer detemlination to go it alone recallthe behavior of those deprived, self-centered teenagers who arealways prepared to fight to the last over a mere word. All of thisdisconcerts Western observers. For there is, strictly speaking, ascandalous discrepancy between what these men claim to be andwhat in fact they have to back them up. These countries withouturban transportation, without troops, and without money cannotjustify flaunting such bravado. It is without doubt an imposture.The Third World often gives the impression it revels in sensationalismand it needs its weekly dose of crises. These leaders of emptycountries who talk too loud are exasperating. You'd like to shutthem up. But instead they are wooed. They are given bouquets offlowers. Invitations. To be frank, everyone wants a piece of them.And that is what we call neutrality. For a population 98 percentilliterate, there is, however, an enormous amount of literature41