Giving coups western approval

Britain’s most influential development economist seems to have trouble distinguishing between poor countries and players in children’s football teams. Paul Collier of Oxford University has written an article for Prospect suggesting the West implement a red and green card system for coups in poor countries. A red card would indicate that the West considers elections “free and fair” – so it would be opposed to any attempts at a coup. A green card “would constitute a signal: the international community would be inviting the military to take action”.

Collier’s arrogance is astounding. What gives the West the right to determine which governments in poor countries are legitimate? All this from a man who apparently does not even understand the card system in sport. A red card indicates that a player has been sent off rather than he can stay on.