Macron is not progressive on Africa.

Macron was asked a question about a Marshall plan for Africa after a speech at the G20 summit. He rattled off some pablum and injected some deep-seated racism in there too, jabbering on about how Africa’s problems were “civilizational” and complaining about “demographic transitions when countries today have 7 or 8 children per woman”.

Rightly so, Macron is having his ass handed to him on Twitter.

any French president's discussion of Africa that doesn't start with an apology on bended knee for sheltering Hutu genocidaires is a crock

— ryan cooper (@ryanlcooper) July 10, 2017

What this episode demonstrates, yet again, is that if you want to know whether a politician is truly on the left, look at their foreign policy. How they view and see human beings in far-flung corners of the world is pretty much how they will treat the least of you back home as well.

And Cooper is right, any conversation about Africa from a French politician should start with a discussion of the ills visited upon so many people by French colonization. It’s pretty rich to say problems are “civilizational” when you’re presiding over an entity that spent a couple of centuries devastating African civilizations and African lives.

Here is the context for the remarks.

Macron's use of word "civilisational" NOT ok, but this is full quote of what he said on children. Far-Right are capitalising on a misquote. pic.twitter.com/dSTDQr4Ool

— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) July 10, 2017

***FRANCE SPENDS CENTURIES EXPLOITING AFRICA TO AMASS WEALTH ***

MACRON: uh clearly they're dumb & uncivilized

— joe prince (@joeprince___) July 10, 2017

Trump's speech about "western civilization" and Macron's comments about "problem of civilization Africa" come from the same white supremacy.

— Zeru (@DoubleStraps) July 10, 2017

Macron says Africa's problems are "civilizational" and blames women with "7 or 8" kids. A repugnant speech.

pic.twitter.com/4BqwDb7fqE

— joe prince (@joeprince___) July 10, 2017

If your take on African economic underdevelopment doesn't once mention colonialism but does blame "civilization", it's a shitty take. https://t.co/hGHgfDnPac

— Jordan (@ImitationJordan) July 10, 2017

Macron is wrong. The right of women to control their fertility is one thing, development economics another (see 'demographic dividend') https://t.co/Ls34YXxnB1

— Martin Prince (@MartinKGHI) July 10, 2017

In short, is he crypto-racist in that classic, persistent, French elite way? YES, no question. But overall this was a pretty minor thing.

— siddhartha mitter (@siddhmi) July 10, 2017

Not so sure it was minor, but agree that his views are probably very much in keeping with the environment he comes from, and a reflection of his ideology.

Cross-posted from NotMeUs.org | @subirgrewal