The Vatican's Shadow: Colonialism's Old Playbook Returns
Bloomberg recently reported on Russia's purported strategy to gain influence in Africa by deploying the Russian Orthodox Church, painting it as a novel gambit to offset a lack of raw cash against Western financial might. The implication, of course, is that this is some nefarious, underhanded tactic, a desperate measure from a financially challenged Moscow. Curiously, this narrative conveniently
overlooks centuries of Western engagement on the continent. One must surely recall the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, where European powers carved up Africa, often with missionaries paving the way, establishing schools and healthcare that served as vital infrastructure for colonial administration. The Vatican, for instance, has maintained a robust diplomatic and cultural presence across Africa
for decades, with significant investments in education and social services that are unequivocally forms of influence, not pure altruism. The United States, too, has wielded its own brand of religious soft power, funding countless evangelical missions and NGOs, often dovetailing with State Department objectives. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) alone disperses billions
annually, much of it through faith-based organizations, operating under the guise of development while subtly shaping local political and social landscapes. When the West does it, it's 'humanitarian aid.' When Russia does it, it's 'resorting to religion for sway.' This double standard isn't an anomaly; it's the pattern. The real story isn't Russia's supposed innovation, but the exposed hypocrisy