Commentary

Attempts to Discredit the World Conference Against Racism

The UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) began in Durban, South Africa on August 31 and is expected to run beyond its scheduled September 7 closing date. The purpose of the conference was to examine the problem of racism and to adopt measures for its eradication.

Long before it even began, the United States initiated a systematic campaign to undermine the conference and discredit any conclusions it may reach. It threatened to boycott the proceedings unless any references to the state of Israel and any demands for the payment of reparations to victims of slavery were removed from the draft documents being discussed. When the Preparatory Committee refused to bow to the U.S. dictate, the U.S. and Israeli delegates walked out of the conference. The delegations from Canada and Europe are also threatening to leave the conference if it adopts a declaration which is not to their liking.

Despite the fact that serious discussion has been taking place on a wide range of problems associated with racism, the Western media has focussed almost entirely on the fact that some of the delegates have equated Zionism with racism. Based on some racist, anti-Jewish statements by a handful of participants, the media is trying to create the impression that all opposition to the anti-Palestinian policies of the Israeli state is based on anti-Semitism.

Despite the manoeuvring of the U.S. and its allies to block any serious discussion of the problems of racism, the conference in Durban has succeeded in placing some very important issues on the international stage. It is clear that the racist and genocidal policies of the Israeli state towards the Palestinians will be debated and the international community will make its position heard. The issue of reparations for the victims of colonialism, slavery and racism is now also firmly on the agenda, as are many other problems associated with racism. Future issues of Modern Communism will examine some of these issues in greater detail.