--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The superpowers took some of the least…" description: "\"“The superpowers took some of the least developed areas on earth, like the Somali desert or the Congo River basin, and pumped in first-world killing eq..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_nature_the-superpowers-took-some-of-the-least-d_2237354.jpg" --- # The superpowers took some of the least developed areas on… ![“The superpowers took some of the least developed areas on earth, like the Somali desert or the Congo River basin, and pumped in first-world killing equipment. They installed leaders of these tinderboxes on the basis not of genuine popularity but merely of who would do their bidding.” quote by Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_nature_the-superpowers-took-some-of-the-least-d_2237354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_nature_the-superpowers-took-some-of-the-least-d_2237354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/jeffrey-gettleman-15142_nature_the-superpowers-took-some-of-the-least-d_2237354.jpg) > ““The superpowers took some of the least developed areas on earth, like the Somali desert or the Congo River basin, and pumped in first-world killing equipment. They installed leaders of these tinderboxes on the basis not of genuine popularity but merely of who would do their bidding.”” [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Superpowers exploit underdeveloped regions by installing compliant leaders and supplying advanced weaponry, prioritizing control over popularity. **In simple terms:** Powerful nations manipulate weak areas with weapons and puppet leaders. Key Takeaway Beware of external exploitation in fragile regions. Themes politics colonialism conflict Mood critical analytical Type investigative historical When to use this quote - humanitarian aid - policy analysis - journalistic reporting Key Concepts realpolitik geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do powerful nations have? - How can affected communities assert autonomy? A Different Perspective Local agency can resist external manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Superpowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superpowers/) ## Related quotes > [The attempt to remove evil from the world by killing a thousand evil - doers, only adds to the evil in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-attempt-to-remove-evil-from-the-world-by-killing-a-thousand-evil/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [In every country in the world, killing human beings is condemned. The Buddhist precept of non-killing extends even further, to include all living beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-every-country-in-the-world-killing-human-beings-is-condemned-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Someone told me love would all save us, but how could that be look what love gave us. 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Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-e-brown/) > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He has to use his brain and his courage. That's what always appealed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-has-to-use-his-brain-and-his/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jeffrey Gettleman > [“First comes Coke, then asphalt, then power lines, then maybe education, justice, and human rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/first-comes-coke-then-asphalt-then-power-lines-then-maybe-education/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [“The Oxford dons had accomplished the impossible. 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