For decades, Western political influence over the Middle East and Africa has been shaped less by humanitarian goals and more by self-interest, power politics, and control over natural resources. From orchestrated coups to selective alliances and military interventions, the West’s approach has left behind a legacy of instability, mistrust, and growing resistance in both regions.
Oil, Influence, and Intervention in the Middle East
Western countries, especially the United States, Britain, and France, have long treated the Middle East as a geopolitical chessboard. The control of oil and energy routes has dictated their foreign policy, often at the expense of democratic principles and local sovereignty.
- Regime changes supported or imposed by the West have destabilized Iraq, Libya, and Syria.
- Strategic alliances with authoritarian Gulf monarchies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been maintained despite widespread human rights abuses.
- Silence or complicity on issues like the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the war on Gaza has exposed the West’s double standards on human rights.
While preaching democracy, the West has often supported or tolerated autocrats — as long as they served Western strategic or economic interests.
Africa: The New Battleground of Neocolonialism
Africa, rich in minerals, oil, and untapped markets, has long been seen by Western powers as a continent to be exploited. Even after colonialism officially ended, economic dominance and military meddling continued through:
- Predatory loans and aid conditionality by the IMF and World Bank that trap countries in debt.
- Military bases and operations in the Sahel, often under the guise of fighting terrorism.
- Support for corrupt regimes in return for resource access or political obedience.
French influence in West Africa, for example, is now being openly rejected by several nations, leading to a rise in anti-French and anti-Western sentiment across the continent.
Double Standards and Hypocrisy
When democratic movements rise in the Middle East or Africa, Western support is selective. Protests in Iran or against rivals are highlighted, while mass uprisings in allied countries like Egypt, Bahrain, or Saudi Arabia are ignored or suppressed.
Similarly, while the West condemns Russian or Chinese authoritarianism, it rarely holds its own allies accountable. This hypocrisy has led to growing distrust and a shift in alliances, with many African and Middle Eastern nations now turning toward China, Russia, and regional powers like Iran and Turkey for alternative partnerships.
The Rise of Resistance and Re-alignment
In recent years, the balance of power is shifting:
- The BRICS alliance is gaining influence in Africa and the Middle East.
- Nations like Iran, Algeria, and South Africa are asserting more independence from the West.
- A new generation of Africans and Arabs is demanding dignity, sovereignty, and justice, rejecting the West’s manipulative policies.
The rise of pan-Africanism, Islamic solidarity movements, and multipolar diplomacy is a direct response to decades of Western exploitation.
Conclusion
Western politics in the Middle East and Africa has been driven largely by greed, fear of losing control, and outdated imperial thinking. But the world is changing. These regions are no longer passive players. They are rising, resisting, and redefining their future — often in defiance of Western expectations. The West can no longer dictate terms. It must learn to engage with these regions as equals — or be left behind.
