If the United States of America or Britain is having elections

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don’t ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers.” we hear the voice of a man who endured the chains of oppression and emerged to challenge the hypocrisies of the world. Mandela, the liberator of South Africa, spoke not merely of elections but of dignity, sovereignty, and equality among nations. His words are both accusation and lament, for they reveal the double standard that has long shaped the relationship between the so-called developed and the developing world.

The origin of this statement lies in Mandela’s experience during the transition of South Africa from apartheid to democracy. In 1994, when the nation prepared for its first truly free elections, international observers were sent in vast numbers, to “ensure” fairness and stability. Mandela did not deny their presence, for South Africa’s wounds were deep and suspicion ran high. Yet he also saw the irony: that nations like the United States or Britain—whose own elections were sometimes marred by scandal, exclusion, or corruption—never opened themselves to the same scrutiny. Thus his words strike at the arrogance of powerful nations who presumed to be guardians of democracy while refusing to admit their own flaws.

History provides us with powerful illustrations of Mandela’s truth. In the United States, the election of 2000 descended into turmoil over ballots and recounts, with legitimacy questioned even by its own citizens. Yet no delegation of African or Asian observers was called upon to monitor the process. In Britain, the history of elections once excluded women, the working poor, and colonized subjects. Yet, again, no “outside observers” were deemed necessary. Mandela’s words expose this imbalance: the assumption that Western nations are inherently trustworthy, while others must constantly prove their legitimacy before the eyes of the world.

The deeper meaning of Mandela’s quote lies in its call for equality. Democracy cannot be measured with two rulers—one for the powerful and one for the weak. To insist that Africa and Asia need external validation while the West does not is to declare that some peoples are perpetual pupils, never masters of their own destiny. Mandela rejects this notion with quiet ferocity. His words remind us that democracy is not the possession of one hemisphere, but the birthright of all humanity. No people should have to beg for recognition of their capacity to govern themselves.

And yet, Mandela speaks not with bitterness, but with wisdom. For he does not deny the value of oversight in fragile times, but rather demands reciprocity and fairness. If global accountability is good, then let it be for all. If trust is to be given, then let it be given equally. His words expose the hypocrisy not to destroy cooperation but to purify it, to call the world into a more honest fellowship of nations.

The lesson for us, O listener, is eternal: do not accept double standards, whether in nations, in communities, or in your own heart. To demand from one what you do not demand from another is not justice but prejudice. In your dealings, judge with equal measure. If you hold the weak to account, hold also the strong. If you require proof of integrity from others, offer proof yourself. For the seed of hypocrisy, left unchallenged, grows into the tree of tyranny.

As for practical action: learn from Mandela’s wisdom by honoring the dignity of all peoples. If you are in power, do not wield judgment as a weapon but as a responsibility, applying it equally. If you are among the judged, do not internalize the disdain of others, but stand proudly in your right to be treated with respect. And in your own life, whether in family, work, or politics, practice equality of judgment, so that your words and actions shine with fairness.

Thus, Mandela’s words endure as a torch against arrogance and hypocrisy. “If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don’t ask for observers… But when we have elections, they want observers.” It is the cry of a man who demanded that Africa be seen not as a child, but as an equal; not as a ward of the West, but as a full participant in the family of nations. Let us take his lesson into our own lives: that respect without equality is a hollow gift, and that true justice begins when all are measured by the same standard.