Is South Africa a ‘Failed Country’? Alan Dershorwitz Thinks So · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

South Africans have come out in defense of their country after American lawyer and political commentator Alan Dershorwitz called South Africa a “failed state” while discussing the Oscar Pistorius murder trial with Piers Morgan on news channel CNN.
The South African double-leg amputee runner fatally shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013; the Olympian claims he thought she was an intruder.
American lawyer and political commentator Alan Dershowitz. Photo released under Creative Commons by Flickr user The Huntington.
Dershorwitz commented in the interview, “I’ve spent some time in South Africa recently, and people don’t want to hear this, but South Africa is a failed country.”
Watch Dershowitz make the assertion below:
South African economists immediately came out to dismiss his assertion, arguing that the South African state does not meet the factors that define a “failed state” such as widespread civil unrest, dysfunctional civil society, absence of an independent judiciary and a lack of protection for private property.
South Africans have taken to Twitter to express their outrage over and disapproval of his remark:
#Dershowitz this trial has nothing to do with race stupid.
— Madidimalo Mabitsela (@MabitselaD) March 6, 2014
look at you own country before commenting on others Alan #Dershowitz #loser
— Benjamin vd Merwe (@Ben10rsa) March 6, 2014
@shyguy_2046 SA is not perfect, far from it. Who is? But #Dershowitz spoke from a place of ignorance and was condescending. That's the issue
— kayata! (@chiya_ninja) March 6, 2014
#Dershowitz needs to watch less tv. He's on that ‘Africa is a country’ mentality. Law school clearly doesn't cure ignorance.
— kayata! (@chiya_ninja) March 6, 2014
#Dershowitz aptly demonstrates genetic fallacy pervasive in #America;analogise #African with villainy #SouthAfrica http://t.co/KELL7COh2P
— Progress4Afrika (@hustlechowindar) March 5, 2014
dear mr alan #dershowitz, south africa is far from a failed country. a developing country maybe, but not failed
— winford collings (@ScreamForKyle) March 6, 2014
#Dershowitz argument epitomizes the attitude & beliefs that #Africa is facing;it has more to fear from its “friends” http://t.co/KELL7COh2P
— Progress4Afrika (@hustlechowindar) March 5, 2014
Some Twitter users took the opportunity to show Deshorwitz that the US is not a perfect state:
#Dershowitz says you who lives in a country which lacks gun control and where kids are not safe going to school, can only be an idiot!!!
— LaziD (@Orbiter03) March 5, 2014
#Dershowitz, I'll rather have my SA with all its diversity and challenges than your American superiority complex. http://t.co/wd4pOGXwZ7
— Jacobus J. Retief (@KoosRetief) March 5, 2014
Americans make it difficult for the world to like them, and they have such a cool president! One rotten Yankee spoils the lot #Dershowitz
— MVRTIVN (@K1D_Marz) March 5, 2014
#Dershowitz calls us lawless and failed? America bombs countries and dictates to everyone. Sure say wot u like, not like America has morals
— Kerry Lanham-Love (@kerrylanlo) March 5, 2014
How does it feel living in a gun-crazy, capitalist, obese and obscene ‘god fearing’ nation Mr #Dershowitz ?
— MVRTIVN (@K1D_Marz) March 5, 2014
@darrenmaule #Dershowitz how dare a crack head red neck openly abuse us as a nation!what about America and it's racial divide and crime?
— Shareez Bagaria (@shareezb) March 6, 2014
One user joked:
I guess we need America to invade SA and fix this #failedcountry, hey. Oh wait, we don't have oil. Darn. *takes a sip of wine* #Dershowitz
— Clinton du Preez (@Cleintoon) March 5, 2014
However, a few agreed with Dershowitz:
Wow,so if I had to put my mind twitter with regards to the #dershowitz interview then I would be so hated but to some “degrees”.HE IS RIGHT!
— Devron (@shyguy_2046) March 6, 2014
#Dershowitz i torally agree with u SA IS A FAILED AND LAWLESS COUNTRY, criminals walk free even oscar wont go to jail though his a killer
— Thabang Gold (@thabangmc) March 5, 2014