Trump’s 'dog-whistle politics' threaten global cooperation - Dr Dale McKinley, political economist

Political economist Dr Dale McKinley is defending South Africa’s position in the G20, arguing that the country’s inclusion extends beyond its economic size.

South Africa has the largest economy in Africa, ranking 38th overall.

McKinley argues that, although South Africa may not be one of the world's largest economies, its geopolitical influence and leadership in the region make its involvement in the global forum both valid and essential.

"If it's purely on economic terms, no, but I think that would be a very narrow perspective, so I don't see any reason why South Africa would not be in it. Donald Trump wants to basically write off Africa as an entire entity in the global sort of stakes; a man who really doesn't care about our Continent and thinks it's basically what he called a sh*t hole place.

"You can't sort of sit up and politically make the kinds of statements that Trump makes about the insignificance of South Africa, and let's get them out of here, and then want everything that Africa offers. And what are the things that South Africa and Africa offer to the United States? A lot. A lot of natural resources, in particular, which without their economy would be in trouble. So, it’ not only hypocritical in terms of what he's doing, but it's playing politics, and it's a dog whistle politics.

"What Donald Trump is doing here is he's dog whistling to his constituents, both domestically and globally. He doesn't like South Africa. He doesn't like the African continent, particularly, he thinks it's a backward place. I don't think he would be able to even name 10 countries in our Continent if he were given a test tomorrow. He's a product of the America that he represents."

McKinley added that Trump’s rhetoric reflects a broader right-wing resurgence marked by intolerance, nationalism, and a disregard for global interdependence.

He cautioned that the surge of nationalism globally, from America's MAGA movement to South Africa's Operation Dudula, presents a fundamental threat to multilateralism.

McKinley argues that inward-looking politics, if unchecked, could erode cooperation on issues such as trade, migration, and climate change.

Instead, he urged African countries to build self-reliance and Continental solidarity, reducing dependence on Western powers.

To listen to McKinley in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk's Aubrey Masango, click below: