The Shift of Global Power: South Africa's Role in Challenging Western Hegemony

In South Africa’s Eurocentric and Americentric education system, Western powers are consistently positioned at the centre of global history, knowledge, and power.

From the study of Adolf Hitler, the fall of the Soviet Union, to the atomic bombing of Japan, the curriculum subtly emphasises Western dominance.

This hegemony is maintained not only through military might, but through intellectual colonisation via education, cultural norms, historical narratives, and the institutionalisation of Western knowledge systems.

The Western media's portrayal of Israel as a perpetual victim has long served to justify Western military interventions under the guise of moral obligation.

However, Iran’s increasing defiance and especially any potential military success against Israel—poses a direct challenge to American and broader Western supremacy.

If advanced Western military assets such as the F-35 fighter jet, produced by Lockheed Martin, are neutralised or rendered ineffective in combat, it undermines the image of technological and strategic superiority the West has cultivated for decades.

The ripple effects on defence stocks and Western economies are substantial, particularly given the economic clout of military-industrial complexes.

When military tools such as, inter alia, the Iron Dome, THAAD, Patriot missile batteries, and the F-35 fail in active conflict, it shakes confidence not only in their effectiveness, but in the mythos of Western invincibility.

This has global strategic implications.

As American military credibility wanes, power may shift eastward toward nations like Russia and China, whose own military technologies are increasingly perceived as competitive or superior.

The implications of this shift are not lost on the West. Just as the British and French empires declined after centuries of dominance, the current American-led order is facing existential threats.

Hegemony has always been tied to narrative control and perceived military superiority. If both begin to erode, we may be witnessing a pivotal realignment of global power.

South Africa’s recent legal victory against Western and American allies at the International Court of Justice further undermines the West’s moral authority.

The ongoing support of Israel by the United States and Western Europe, despite flagrant violations of international law, reveals the selective ethics that often underpin global diplomacy.

This defence is not rooted in morality, but in economic and geopolitical self-interest.

Former President Thabo Mbeki aptly noted that the United States will pursue anything deemed to be of national interest.

The Iraq War, launched under the false premise of "weapons of mass destruction," is a case in point.

The West’s unwavering support for Israel, despite violations of international norms, reflects the same strategic calculus not an accident, but a deliberate choice aligned with preserving Western influence.

The post-apartheid dismantling of South Africa's nuclear weapons program also raises critical questions.

It is difficult to ignore the racial dimensions of global hegemony. The decision to strip South Africa of its nuclear capabilities occurred on the eve of democratic transition, suggesting a deep-seated fear of nuclear power in the hands of a non-Western, non-white leadership.

Iran’s recent military and diplomatic assertiveness represents a profound threat to Western hegemony and national interests.

The potential shift in global military dynamics compels Western powers to either intervene militarily, back their allies more aggressively, or risk further embarrassment, much like their faltering support for Ukraine.

This geopolitical landscape must be viewed through multiple lenses. The European Union, once a vocal advocate for international norms during the Ukraine crisis, has responded with conspicuous silence to Israel’s recent escalations against Iran.

This double standard undermines their moral authority and exposes the inconsistencies in Western foreign policy.

It is increasingly evident that the West feels threatened both militarily and ideologically. Its attempts to ban platforms like TikTok that are not merely about data security but about controlling global narratives.

Dominance in the information space is as critical as battlefield supremacy in maintaining hegemony.

This geopolitical turning point offers South Africa a unique opportunity.

As Western powers struggle to maintain control, South Africa can assert itself on the global stage—demanding greater representation in forums and deepening strategic relations with the East.

By positioning itself as a principled intermediary and an emerging power in a multipolar world, South Africa can secure long-term economic and diplomatic benefits.

*The opinions expressed in this article does not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.

DAILY NEWS