Western Concern for Human Rights: A Tale of Two Outcries

The West’s Moral Megaphone: Volume Control Settings

Ah, Western concern for human rights - a beacon shining brightly, provided you’re standing in the right postcode. Take Ukraine: when Russia invaded, the West’s moral outrage was so loud it could be heard from Brussels to Brisbane. Politicians donned blue-and-yellow ties, social media avatars were hastily updated, and sanctions were flung like confetti at a particularly unpopular wedding. “A moral imperative!” they declared, as if the fate of the free world depended on the correct pronunciation of “Kyiv”.

But when it comes to Gaza, the West’s megaphone seems to have run out of batteries. Suddenly, the outrage is more of a polite cough. “We call on Israel to exercise restraint,” leaders murmur, before hastily changing the subject to the weather or, if pressed, to the importance of “humanitarian pauses” - the diplomatic equivalent of asking an arsonist to please use less petrol.

Rules-Based Order: Some Assembly Required

The West loves a rules-based order, especially when it’s someone else breaking the rules. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? “A flagrant breach of international law!” Gaza? Well, let’s not be hasty. There are “concerns,” “reviews,” and the occasional strongly worded letter, but actual consequences are reserved for the less well-connected. The EU’s audit found Israel may be breaching its human rights obligations in Gaza, but don’t expect a sanctions bonanza any time soon.

Human Rights: Now With Selective Outrage!

The Global South, watching this spectacle, has drawn the obvious conclusion: Western moral credibility is now on life support, and the prognosis isn’t good. If human rights are universal, why does the West’s compassion seem to have a GPS tracker set to “Europe only”? Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, blockades, bombings, and mass displacement elicit little more than a furrowed brow and a promise to “look into it.” Ukraine, meanwhile, gets the full Hollywood treatment: flags, anthems, and Oscar-worthy speeches.

Conclusion: The West’s Human Rights Department - Closed for Refurbishment

So here we are, with the West’s commitment to human rights looking less like a principled stand and more like a loyalty card scheme - points awarded for the right victims, redeemable for outrage at a time and place of your choosing. As thousands die in Gaza, the silence is deafening. But rest assured: if injustice happens within driving distance of Vienna, the West will be there, megaphone in hand, ready to defend the rules-based order - terms and conditions apply.