What the Chinese don't know about Africa

Published 07 February 2008

As the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan tries to broker a deal between rival politicians in Kenya, China's much-touted new importance on the continent seems almost irrelevant

The Chinese believe that they have understood the problem in Kenya. "Western-style democratic theory simply isn't suited to African conditions, but rather carries with it the root of disaster," said a comment piece in the People's Daily, the newspaper of the Communist Party. This analysis tells us more about China than about Kenya. China's long-held policy of "non-interference" is simply a pledge to support those in power in any given country, however venal or corrupt they may be. The idea of an opposition is anathema to the one-party state, where ideology has given way to the notion that economic growth depends on stability, and stab ility requires repression.

The belief that Africans are not ready for democracy is scarcely new, but it is not an analysis that resonates among most of the Kenyans I have met this past week. They say that if their elections had not been stolen by the ruling party, if a corrupt elite had not creamed off so much money, if politicians had listened to the voters, then Kenya would not be teetering on the edge of the abyss. In other words, the problem is a lack of democracy.

Some are nostalgic for the days of President Daniel arap Moi, who balanced ethnic groups his own way, with little regard for elections, but I don't get the feeling that Kenyans are ready to give up on the institutions they have created since his demise. Unlike China, Kenya has TV stations and newspapers which reflect a plethora of views, as well as non-governmental organ isations, human rights groups, churches and mosques that operate freely.

All of which is very baffling to the government in Beijing. Reluctant to accept that there is such a thing as political strife, it describes what is happening in Kenya as a "humanitarian crisis". It has put a similar label on the killings in Darfur. Yet a growing number of the Chinese who work in Africa are beginning to realise that their government's analysis of events is inadequate.

According to Victor Yuan, a con sultant and leading market researcher who surveyed Chin ese business people and diplomats working in Africa, Chinese companies are increasingly frustrated with the paucity of information they receive from their embassies, which simply reiterate central government diktats.

"We don't have a strong NGO society in China, but in Africa if you don't co-operate with NGOs you cannot succeed," says Yuan. "In China, the government plays a large role in exercising power; in Africa, government is smaller." Such analysis is not welcome in Beijing, where NGOs are seen as potentially subversive. The authorities in Beijing dictate aid, trade and business policy with little regard for local realities.

Over the past year, Chinese companies have learned that a failure to understand what is going on around you can be dangerous. Rhetoric about "long-standing friendly ties" did not protect Chinese oil workers from rebel groups in Ethiopia and Nigeria. After several of its workers were kidnapped, the China National Offshore Oil Cor poration turned to a London-based consulting company to provide analysis of the political situation in the Niger Delta so it can now judge if it is safe for its workers to operate there.

He Wenping of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says Chinese companies are only now realising that they will face some of the same problems as their western counterparts. Chinese managers are frequently sent to Africa with no language training and no understanding of the politics. "We need a new model of south-north-south co-operation," she said.

As the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan tries to broker a deal between rival politicians in Kenya, China's much-touted new importance on the continent seems almost irrelevant. A policy of "non-interference" offers little, and there is no clamour in Africa for the Chinese model of authoritarian capitalism.

The focus has to be on the failure of African leaders and government institutions. Chinese investment could lift thousands of Africans out of poverty, but only if African leaders curb corruption, distribute revenue fairly and ensure that politics does not descend into conflict.

Lindsey Hilsum is international editor for Channel 4 News

Post this article to

12 comments from readers

Aly-Khan Satchu
07 February 2008 at 10:37

Sir,

Lindsey Hilsum's analysis is I feel egregiously one sided. Firstly, Is a situation where Folk vote by tribe [at near enough 100%] democracy? Surely, its better described as something else. This means that if you seek to stand in a particular tribal fiefdom and you are not of the tribal majority, you have a zero chance of being elected. Hardly what modern democracy was all about. If I am not mistaken, Democracy was forgotten about in Algeria, in Iraq because we as the Western Powers did not like the result. So it is rather rich when it is held as some kind of panacea. In Kenya, it has inculculated an US and Them mentality of the worse kind [we are wrestling with the consequences] and brought in a zero sum game mentality. Kenya was a creation of the West and Nationalism is not yet anchored in the national psyche.

Furthermore, it is absurd to trash the Chinese contribution to the recent African renaissance. Before the emergence of Chindia, the likes of Kenya were completely dependent on the West, the same West that left the Continent in a hand to mouth existence, because no one committed to contracts longer than a year. Chindia undertook long term contracts, which in turn unleashed credit and helped the Continent reach its fastest rate of growth since these countries gained their independence. It is plain churlish to discount the Chinese impact on our Continent.

Correlating trade flows, one senses that the E.U and Britain still operate under a bygone idea that this is their backyard. It is not, anymore. You would not believe that listening to some of the plain outrageous comments coming out of the mouths of some of the relevant representatives.

The EU and Britain felt their power diminishing under the Kibaki regime and were obviously not neutral in the recent situation. Furthermore, you can hardly claim to be the Africans' best friends when at the first sign of trouble, travel advisories are issued and real people lose their jobs. Look at the Coast. Has anyone been injured except for two unfortunate instances.Friends indeed. Lets see who assists us in real terms in our time of need?

This play for relevance has been less than honest. It is high time the EU and Britain eased off on this paternalistic clap trap, it really is.Imagine what we would have had to put up with if China and India had not been on the Continent. Not a pleasant thought.

Aly-Khan Satchu

www.rich.co.ke

Nairobi

ikotubo
07 February 2008 at 20:05

One of the most upsetting facts about my continent is that the misrule that defines it uniquely lends itself to any theory - no matter how ludicrous. Consider the suggestion by the Chinese government that democracy is alien to our "culture." First, it ignores the fact that there is no such thing as "African culture." Indeed, in Nigeria alone, there are over 140 different "cultures." But I'll let that pass, as they say.

Now to the issue of democratic governance - a principle enshrined in the UNIVERSAL Declaration of Human Rights 1948. What China is telling us is that there is something not very universal about this universally adopted instrument. Well, again, there you have it - and China is supposed to be a member of the UN Security Council. In any event, what it is suggesting is that there is something within the very dynamics of democratic governance (as defined in the Universal Declaration) which invariably impedes political stability and economic development (Africa's twin problems). Well, even with all its known flaws, the same principle has given the Western world unparallelled levels of both. Indeed, in Africa itself, democracy has proved its worth in places such as Botswana, post-apartheid South Africa, Mauritius, and, dare I mention Mugabe's Zimbabwe (before he tore up the Constitution). And how ironic indeed, that Zimbabwe became the wretched dystopia it is today, only as soon as it adopted the Chinese approach to governance!

In any event, if democracy were anathema to political stability and economic development, Africa would be the most stable and most economically developed region in the world today - if only because we've had more dictatorships (the Chinese model included) than anywhere else on earth.

Riaz Ahmad
09 February 2008 at 01:30

The author, like her fellow western journalist has a class of her own hypocricy. Has the west not supported and befriended cruel dictators. Does the name Mabutu rings a bell. Talking about democracy, does she remember the name of democratically elected Mosedegh of Iran, who over-threw him to be replaced by an evil dictator monorch, so that for decades, oil can be robbed for $2.50 a barrel. Has she forgotten about Pinochet and death squads of South America. What about mining of Nicraguan port, the slaughter of millions in Indonisia and Algeria who wanted independence, while likes of you preached the wonders of democracy. While the recent history is stained in blood, why does she not write about these sins. May be it is convenient to lambast the wogs, a way of escape and a distraction from the nreality of one's own attrocities.

ikotubo
09 February 2008 at 12:29

To Riaz Ahmad: I share your sense of anger about Western policies all over the developing world. But I believe you' re wrong to equate such policies with the notion of democracy. If anything, such deeds are the very antithesis of democratic values - as defined under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that is. So yes, Western rulers have behaved abominably over the years; indeed, they have often attempted to justify their conduct by invoking the word "democracy," as Bush and Blair recently did in Iraq. But it is fundamentally wrong to assume that it is democracy that makes them behave as they do.

Riaz Ahmad
09 February 2008 at 12:53

ikotubo,

I agree with what you are saying, democracy indeed is what is needed in every country. But no nation on earth has the right to impose democracy on any other nation. It is the bisuness of rule of law through United nations, and the institutaton is incapable of delivering the rule of law and justice, as long as there is the security council, a more appropriate word for it is RACKET that imposes its will on the world for political and ecconomic interest. Those who believe in the principle of democracy in the west are totally silient on the issue of the RACKET. Behind these pious slogans of democracy, and holier than thou attitude is ruthless and relentless quest for vested interest. With out equality, there is no democracy, it is the fundamental preamble.

ikotubo
09 February 2008 at 17:47

To Riaz Ahmad: I suspect we're on the same side in this debate; but I just don't share your cynicism about anything Western. As an African, I feel much more comfortable living in the West than I would in a place like China or Russia. This, of course, does not mean there are no problems with Westerm democracies; of course there are - and these are very well known. But I'd much rather continue to live here than in China.

Riaz Ahmad
09 February 2008 at 23:07

I agree with you, my feelings are exactly the same, I love this country, I have lived her since I was a child, I am 56 now. The point I am making is that the European and USA governments practice of and belief in democarcy is confined to their collective borders only. Beyond that line, the story is entirely different. Is it democratic when G7 sits behind closed door and impose a highly rigged and biased economic system on the world. Is the security council a democratic institution. How many times have USA and UK shown disregard for UN resolutions, and aided and abetted Isreal to do the same. Is this democratic behaviour? It is like guilty showing two fingers to the court and the judge. Is it democratic behaviour to invade other countries, like UK France and Isreal invaded Egypt. I have stated that I love this country, but that does not mean I must love and condone the country's undemocratic and morally questionable actions. Is NPT and NTBT democratic, it is nothing but nuclear aparthied that sticks out like a sore thumb. These are just a few examples.

ikotubo
09 February 2008 at 23:16

I agree, particularly with their unconditional support for Israel. No atrocity is too gruesome to "explain" or "justify," it seems. And their decision to punish the Palestinian people for electing a government of their choice is one that will haunt them for some time to come.

Riaz Ahmad
10 February 2008 at 13:25

Ikotubo, may be I did not express properly. Here I sum up what I was trying to convey. As I siad previously, democracy rules the day when it comes to relationship between Europe and the USA. Add Canada, Australia and Newzeland and you have completed the picture. With in the confines of these collective borders, there is relationship of the equals based on democracy and democratic behaviour. Outside these these collective borders, the relationship is not based on democracy but rather on hypocricy. I am extending the principle of democracy to apply to nation states as individuals. Here is the criteria by which you judge the belief and respect for democracy.

ikotubo
10 February 2008 at 17:10

I agree with you, brother...

hilarious
11 February 2008 at 15:15

You Guys should give Lindsey a break. She is after all a Journalist who has to play the 'Devil's Advocate' to whet your political appetite. I say, she's done a terrific job with this one.

aa18
07 March 2008 at 12:58

I think there are is a fundamental mistake this article, and many of the comments about it, are making.

Western-style democracy is not the same as thing as democracy per se. It is a mistake to equate the much more universal principles of democracy with what is practiced in the west, which, in any case, varries across countries.

Post your comment

Please note: you will need to login or register before you can comment on the website

About the writer

Lindsey Hilsum is China Correspondent for Channel 4 News. She has previously reported extensively from Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and Latin America.