Clarissa's Blog

The Clintons have both been accused of engaging in nation-building in the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. This is a very idiotic accusation because nation-building looks completely different. It’s all about manufacturing a sense of common puprpose, inventing a shared history, engineering emotional attachment, and creating meaningful symbols. None of this was done by either Clinton or by Obama.

Instead, they tried to engage in state-building. This is a lot easier than nation-building because creating functioning institutions of a state requires no passionate emotional attachment. And even at this much easier task they all failed, every single time. Because it’s not something anybody can impose from the outside. People will figure it out on their own. Or not.

Confusing nation-building with state-building is a sign of sloppy, lazy thinking. Language deserves respect and loving care. Let’s not treat it with contempt that it doesn’t merit.