TWEET OF THE WEEK: The banana republic paradox
The phrase is increasingly evoked — most often by way of denial but that seems doomed to change, writes Gareth van Onselen
Welcome to Tweet of the Week. Every Friday I will use this column to hand out an award to one person who has tweeted something of significance. There are no strict rules, only that the tweet in question must offer an important insight, define a debate (notorious or otherwise) or mark an occasion. This week the Tweet of the Week goes to @HlangananiGumbi for: "Baleka Mbete on army at SONA: "We are a state -not a banana republic. We ought to show the authority of the state when the need arises"??????"Banana republic" was a phrase of the regressive right wing, of the racist and recalcitrant. On pain of death would any right-thinking person suggest it a defensible description. But today, two decades later, you will find it regularly evoked. And, while those on the fringe still use it often to unthinkingly denigrate and dismiss, it has found its way into mainstream political rhetoric. It is true, almost every time it is used, it serves one of two very particular purposes: either to deny t...
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