Asia
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
We want to encourage people to comment on our content and to exchange views with other readers and hope this will be done on a courteous basis. However, if you encounter posts which are offensive please let us know by emailing comments@newstatesman.co.uk and we will take swift action where necessary.
