An irony is that, in order to win the global influence game in the "global south", patrons need to be strict but also kind. Kindness is a strategic asset. 1/ see @katemac.bsky.social @70sbachchan.bsky.social www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/mar...

Because kindness draws hope rather than blood, however, its deployment must be hidden from domestic constituencies whose own hope is in bitterly short supply. 2/

Rube Goldberg devices are invented merely to obscure the necessary kindness, but ultimately they sabotage it, and no one is helped, no one is satisfied. /fin