The Shadow of Apartheid: How South Africa’s Legacy Shapes American Politics
The influence of apartheid-era South Africa on American politics is a story of paradoxes, contradictions, and deeply rooted ideologies. As Simon Kuper of The Financial Times notes, key figures in the MAGA movement—Elon Musk, David Sacks, Peter Thiel, and Paul Furber—share formative experiences in apartheid South Africa. Their backgrounds reveal a troubling connection between the racial hierarchies of apartheid and the rise of far-right populism in the United States. This article delves into their stories, explores the apartheid connection, and examines the paradox of anti-immigrant rhetoric being fueled by immigrants themselves.
Elon Musk: A Childhood in Apartheid’s Shadow
Elon Musk spent his formative years in Pretoria, South Africa, until the age of 17. Growing up in a country defined by racial segregation and inequality, Musk witnessed firsthand the extreme disparities between white privilege and Black oppression. His father, Errol Musk, was an engineer who profited from apartheid’s exploitative systems, including emerald mining ventures that relied on cheap Black labor.
Musk’s worldview has been shaped by this environment. He has described South Africa as a “Darwinian war of all against all,” a perspective that aligns with his libertarian disdain for government intervention and his belief in survival-of-the-fittest capitalism. This mindset has translated into his support for far-right figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, as well as his promotion of anti-immigrant and anti-“woke” rhetoric.
David Sacks: From Cape Town to Trump’s Inner Circle
David Sacks, born in Cape Town to a Jewish family, emigrated to the United States at the age of five. Despite leaving South Africa early, Sacks’ upbringing in a diaspora family steeped in apartheid-era values likely influenced his political leanings. Sacks, a prominent venture capitalist and member of the so-called “PayPal Mafia,” has become a key fundraiser for Donald Trump and a vocal critic of U.S. involvement in Ukraine.
Sacks’ 1995 book, The Diversity Myth, co-authored with Peter Thiel, critiques multiculturalism and affirmative action, arguing that these policies undermine meritocracy. This stance reflects a broader libertarian ideology that dismisses systemic racism and inequality—echoes of apartheid-era justifications for racial hierarchies.
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Peter Thiel: Apartheid’s Nuclear Legacy
Peter Thiel spent part of his childhood in South Africa and Namibia, where his father was involved in uranium mining for the apartheid regime’s clandestine nuclear weapons program. This connection to apartheid’s most oppressive systems is emblematic of Thiel’s broader worldview. He has been accused of supporting apartheid during his time at Stanford, reportedly stating that it “works” and is “economically sound”.
Thiel’s libertarian philosophy, which advocates for minimal government intervention and maximal corporate power, mirrors the apartheid regime’s reliance on private industry to maintain control. His companies, including Palantir, have been criticized for enabling surveillance and authoritarianism, further aligning him with the oppressive tactics of apartheid.
Paul Furber: The South African Architect of QAnon
Paul Furber, a South African software developer and tech journalist, has been identified by forensic linguists as a likely originator of the QAnon conspiracy theory. QAnon, which claims that a secret cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles controls the U.S. government, has become a cornerstone of the MAGA movement.
Furber’s role in QAnon highlights the global reach of South Africa’s apartheid-era ideologies. His conspiratorial thinking, rooted in distrust of government and institutions, reflects the paranoia and authoritarianism that characterized apartheid. While Furber denies being “Q,” his influence on the movement underscores the enduring impact of South Africa’s political climate on global far-right movements.
The Paradox of Anti-Immigrant Populism
The most striking paradox of this group is their role in fueling anti-immigrant sentiment while being immigrants themselves. Musk, Sacks, and Thiel have all benefited from the opportunities afforded by immigration, yet they support policies that restrict these opportunities for others. This contradiction is emblematic of the broader far-right movement, which often scapegoats immigrants for societal problems while ignoring the systemic inequalities that drive migration.
The anti-immigrant rhetoric espoused by these figures mirrors the apartheid regime’s efforts to control and exclude Black South Africans. By framing immigrants as a threat, they tap into the same fears of racial and cultural displacement that underpinned apartheid.
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The Apartheid Connection: A Legacy of Inequality and Fear
The apartheid regime was built on extreme inequality, racial segregation, and a pervasive fear of Black uprisings. These themes resonate in the ideologies of Musk, Sacks, Thiel, and Furber, who advocate for policies that exacerbate inequality and stoke racial tensions. Their support for Trumpism, with its emphasis on white grievance and anti-immigrant sentiment, reflects a continuation of apartheid’s legacy.
Moreover, their disdain for government intervention and their belief in unfettered capitalism echo the apartheid regime’s reliance on private industry to maintain control. This alignment underscores the enduring influence of South Africa’s political climate on global far-right movements.
A Troubling Legacy
The stories of Musk, Sacks, Thiel, and Furber reveal the deep and often overlooked connections between apartheid South Africa and the rise of far-right populism in the United States. Their experiences with inequality, fear, and authoritarianism have shaped their ideologies and fueled their support for Trumpism.
Yet, the paradox of anti-immigrant rhetoric being championed by immigrants highlights the contradictions at the heart of this movement. As the world grapples with the legacy of apartheid, it is crucial to recognize how these ideologies continue to shape global politics—and to challenge the narratives that perpetuate inequality and division.