How China's Approach Beats the West's in Africa

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent 10-day tour across Africa represented a strategic caving-in of sorts. In many of the places she visited, the Chinese had gotten there first. In fact, China is everywhere in Africa these days, both exploiting the continent's vast natural riches and pursuing infrastructure projects long promised but never quite delivered by the West.

Building railroads from inland areas to the coast, with the eventual prospect of a network that spans sub-Saharan Africa? Putting in highways at affordable prices across the continent? Constructing state-of-the-art office complexes, within budgets that African nations can afford?

These are all goals that African leaders have pursued for a long time. In the past, a toxic combination of corruption, murky ties between ex-colonizing countries (and their business elites) and the new rulers, and overly complex planning structures derailed project after project. Given the ability to deliver projects on time and on budget, the Chinese offer Africa's governments and people a clean-cut deal: If you work with us, we will build it — period. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Given that Africa's economic growth has long been stunted by the lack of a dependable internal transportation infrastructure — within countries and among them — this is more than a tempting offer. It represents an opportunity of historic proportions.

Yes, the continent has airports and cell phones galore, but due to the wholly insufficient rail and highway infrastructure, trade is still hampered in a manner reminiscent of Europe before 1820. In that sense, the initiatives undertaken by the Chinese in Africa now are the historical equivalent of what the Napoleonic wars brought to a country like Germany. They are a long overdue wake-up call to get rid of outdated traditions in order to advance to the age of modern commerce and trade.

Without making light of the drawbacks of how the Chinese operate, including the fact that they rely mostly on their own workforces even for projects deep in Africa's interior, theirs is a vision that is very distinct from that of the West over the past 50 years.The formula the West applied to post-independence, post-1960 Africa was one that focused on democracy-building over market-building. The Chinese approach it just the other way around. And whatever the preferences of Westerners, it is clearly Africans who have to make the choice of whether to go with democracy first or markets first.

In the abstract, it is always preferable to focus on democratic structures. However, in countries where poverty is still rampant, an uncomfortable counterargument can be made, based on the track record of the past 50 years. In much of Africa, political growth remains as stunted as economic development. Political maturity — in the sense of a robust enough democracy for elections to result in actual power change — for the most part only works in countries like Ghana, where economic development is already advanced and broad-based.

Focusing on market-building first can empower a budding middle class — which provides a check to the vestiges of often clan-based political and economic feudalism. In this approach, economic development leads political development. That is pretty much how things transpired in Europe over the centuries. There, economic empowerment led the merchant classes to demand increased political rights, which eventually put the continent on the road to full-blown democracy.

For Westerners. it is confounding to see that theirs somehow ended up being the "ideological" approach. Focusing on ideology, mind you, was supposed to be the Communists' gig, due to their inability to offer anything meaningful in terms of material goods.

And yet, it was the United States that peddled democracy and human rights — a.k.a., broadly speaking, ideology. Faced with the negative fallout of that, Secretary Clinton has recently sought out a more balanced approach, focusing on business (and opportunity) over human rights (and hectoring).

Meanwhile, the Chinese have kept building bridges, railroads, and conference centers. Ironically, it is the Chinese — not the Americans — who can make a compelling case that their focus in Africa has been not on spreading ideology but on the practical business of securing natural resources and creating future customers and trading partners.

Such a customer focus, of course, runs fully counter to Marxist doctrine. Better yet, the Chinese can call on the estimable Adam Smith as the crown witness for their strategy in Africa. In assessing the economic strategies of great empires, he wrote:

"To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers may at first appear a project fit only for a nation of shopkeepers. It is however a project altogether unfit for a nation of shopkeepers — but extremely fit for a nation whose government is influenced by shopkeepers."

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/09/how_chinas_approach_beats_the.html

[size=32pt]VERY GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, FELLOW AFRICANS, LOOK TOWARDS THE EAST, NOT THE WEST!!!!!!!!!!! THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST, AND SETS IN THE WEST!!!!!![/size]


the Asians are tribesepoples and ethnic peoples like us. they share the similar economic, political, cultural and religious issues like us. we must join them against the west.

PAGAN 9JA:
[size=32pt]VERY GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, FELLOW AFRICANS, LOOK TOWARDS THE EAST, NOT THE WEST!!!!!!!!!!! THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST, AND SETS IN THE WEST!!!!!![/size]


the Asians are tribesepoples and ethnic peoples like us. they share the similar economic, political, cultural and religious issues like us. we must join them against the west.

Not without serious fundamental costs.Africa to chinese is still another dumping ground,and no more than a place explore for the survival of the emerging chinese empire.

Africans are still being scrambled.

#Cryyyy blood africa,cry bllod.

^^^^^^but it is still through fair trade. all that now depends on governement policy. and the Chinese are really not dumping Africa. they have flooded our markets with very cheap goods which is good for the peple to a large extent. and they are building ur infrastructures.

PAGAN 9JA:
[size=32pt]VERY GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, FELLOW AFRICANS, LOOK TOWARDS THE EAST, NOT THE WEST!!!!!!!!!!! THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST, AND SETS IN THE WEST!!!!!![/size]


the Asians are tribesepoples and ethnic peoples like us. they share the similar economic, political, cultural and religious issues like us. we must join them against the west.

Don't be f00led. China has a population that cannot be sustained by it's landmass. The Gobi Desert and wastelands of Siberia bordering Russia are not conducive for agriculture nor habitable.

The increase in general food prices of recent was attributed to China adding more peeps to the middle class.With economic prosperity spreading the Chinese taste demands has increased. The average Chinese used to dine on meat(pork to be exact) on average once a year (fact!). It takes approximately 30kg of vegetable matter to produce a kilo of pork meat by the way. So much landmass both in and out of china are dedicated to producing more food and meat for China. Add climate change and the associated civil conflicts that plague our world and high energy cost then you will understand why grain prices globally increased as much as 50% in less than 3yrs.

The Chinese technocrats know they need land for agriculture (and also natural resources to fuel their industrial rise).

Ponder on this as well, China remains a communist society with an authoritarian government in place.

Ask yourself if they (Chinese leaders) don't respect the rights of their people what makes you think they will care more for your black a55es?

The first wave has come and gone (lopsided trade and bilateral agreements with st0pitd African leaders), we are witnessing the second wave and it is all down to economics. The 3rd and final wave will be in two stages and will include mass migration to Africa and recolonization.

The U.S. desperately needs an AFRICOM base (preferably in the Gulf of Guinea) to check the chinnese over the African Continent.

If you underestimate your worth obviously you won't get a fair deal. South Sudan alone can feed the world with it's abundant land mass and plentiful amount of sun and water (both from the marshes, blue Nile and also from adequate rainfall.

and by the way...90% of the Chinese you see on the continent today are either Military or affiliated.

I think OldDirtyBastard made some sense, if chinese don't give a f*** about themselves to the extent that there is more slavery (chinese on chinese slavery) than the rest of the world combined, what makes us assume they are not just in Africa for the sole sake of ripping us off?

Every country in the world is dancing to China. This is not a mistake, Chinese Economic model beats my imagination. When the entire world mocked inflation as an obituary of a standard economy, Chine devalued their currency purposely, flooded the entire planet with cheap products, crippled 80% of world's factories and turned manufacturers in the West to Chinese Franchise dealers. This is a marvelous economic strategy worthy of emulation. What Nigeria needs is not a loan from China, its total privatization of the electricity sector, building of 10 or more Steel production plants and devaluation of the Naira.

Billyonaire: Every country in the world is dancing to China. This is not a mistake, Chinese Economic model beats my imagination. When the entire world mocked inflation as an obituary of a standard economy, Chine devalued their currency purposely, flooded the entire planet with cheap products, crippled 80% of world's factories and turned manufacturers in the West to Chinese Franchise dealers. This is a marvelous economic strategy worthy of emulation. What Nigeria needs is not a loan from China, its total privatization of the electricity sector, building of 10 or more Steel production plants and devaluation of the Naira.

Chinese are plain intelligent. they deserve a round of aplause. Nigeria must ally with China in other ways. our government must be strong.

0ldDirtyBastard:

Don't be f00led. China has a population that cannot be sustained by it's landmass. The Gobi Desert and wastelands of Siberia bordering Russia are not conducive for agriculture nor habitable.

The increase in general food prices of recent was attributed to China adding more peeps to the middle class.With economic prosperity spreading the Chinese taste demands has increased. The average Chinese used to dine on meat(pork to be exact) on average once a year (fact!). It takes approximately 30kg of vegetable matter to produce a kilo of pork meat by the way. So much landmass both in and out of china are dedicated to producing more food and meat for China. Add climate change and the associated civil conflicts that plague our world and high energy cost then you will understand why grain prices globally increased as much as 50% in less than 3yrs.

The Chinese technocrats know they need land for agriculture (and also natural resources to fuel their industrial rise).

Ponder on this as well, China remains a communist society with an authoritarian government in place.

Ask yourself if they (Chinese leaders) don't respect the rights of their people what makes you think they will care more for your black a55es?

The first wave has come and gone (lopsided trade and bilateral agreements with st0pitd African leaders), we are witnessing the second wave and it is all down to economics. The 3rd and final wave will be in two stages and will include mass migration to Africa and recolonization.

The U.S. desperately needs an AFRICOM base (preferably in the Gulf of Guinea) to check the chinnese over the African Continent.

If you underestimate your worth obviously you won't get a fair deal. South Sudan alone can feed the world with it's abundant land mass and plentiful amount of sun and water (both from the marshes, blue Nile and also from adequate rainfall.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO WRRY ABOUT CHINA'S INTERNAL MATTERS!!!!! LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS. THEY KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THINGS. THEY ALREADY HAVE A GOOD ONE-CHILD POLICY AND THE LIVES OF AVERAGE CHINESE IS IMPROVING GRADUALLY AS WE SPEAK. THE (HAN) CHINESE ARE HE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP IN THE WORLD. THEREFORE< THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER.

sheyguy: I think OldDirtyBastard made some sense, if chinese don't give a f*** about themselves to the extent that there is more slavery (chinese on chinese slavery) than the rest of the world combined, what makes us assume they are not just in Africa for the sole sake of ripping us off?

those are Chinese internal matters. they dont want open revolts, etc., against their government. to be honest,a government with authority always works well. compare Inda with China. China - largest communis Nation, INdia - largest democracy. China has 10 times more GDP, overall development, life-development index, etc. China is better than INdia in ll spheres. INdia is riddled with many protests in recent times and with revolts in the North, Northe-East, South-East, etc/ INdia has had so many bomb blasts, recently crowd went wild and destroyed Southern Mumbai, poverty, destitution, lack of proper infrastructure, corruption ,etc.'


A Monarchy (especially) works even better. because the ruler is comitted to the people by a bond tied to his birth. Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Gulf States, Great Britain, etc and many other monarchies around the world were/are doing well.

and oldirtybastard doesnt make sense. China has an extremely LArge Landmass and is one of the world's largest countries. compared to India, they have way more land.

PAGAN 9JA:



Chinese are plain intelligent. they deserve a round of aplause. Nigeria must ally with China in other ways. our government must be strong.

Ofcourse our government is trying to do the same but with a wrong approach. I also doubt if the opposition in western-style democracies in countries like Nigeria can see beyond partisan politics and form a formidable front with the ruling party to overhaul our economy. Chinese Economy will beat USA in the next 2yrs if the status quo is maintained.

PAGAN 9JA:



Chinese are plain intelligent. they deserve a round of aplause. Nigeria must ally with China in other ways. our government must be strong.

Google d1ck size per race and you would understand why all Asian men are crazy, also the Asians (Chinese to be specific) invented the train, paper money and also castration.

PAGAN 9JA:


those are Chinese internal matters. they dont want open revolts, etc., against their government. to be honest,a government with authority always works well. compare Inda with China. China - largest communis Nation, INdia - largest democracy. China has 10 times more GDP, overall development, life-development index, etc. China is better than INdia in ll spheres. INdia is riddled with many protests in recent times and with revolts in the North, Northe-East, South-East, etc/ INdia has had so many bomb blasts, recently crowd went wild and destroyed Southern Mumbai, poverty, destitution, lack of proper infrastructure, corruption ,etc.'


A Monarchy (especially) works even better. because the ruler is comitted to the people by a bond tied to his birth. Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Gulf States, Great Britain, etc and many other monarchies around the world were/are doing well.

and oldirtybastard doesnt make sense. China has an extremely LArge Landmass and is one of the world's largest countries. compared to India, they have way more land.

have you ever been to any Scandinavia country? that's utopia for you...

Billyonaire: Ofcourse our government is trying to do the same but with a wrong approach. I also doubt if the opposition in western-style democracies in countries like Nigeria can see beyond partisan politics and form a formidable front with the ruling party to overhaul our economy. Chinese Economy will beat USA in the next 2yrs if the status quo is maintained.

Where do you get 2years from? Not disputing (yet) but want to know why you say 2 years.

0ldDirtyBastard:

have you ever been to any Scandinavia country? that's utopia for you...

Indeed.

.

PAGAN 9JA:
^^^^^^but it is still through fair trade. all that now depends on governement policy. and the Chinese are really not dumping Africa. they have flooded our markets with very cheap goods which is good for the peple to a large extent. and they are building ur infrastructures.

What fair trade are you currently enjoying or do you think you are enjoying? China has succeeded in flooding the African markets with Chinese made goods essentially eliminating much of the competition that Africa had hoped for. China takes our raw materials at low cost and floods our markets with cheap goods to annihilate the African competition at the end of the day. China is currently providing the loans to help build ports and rail across Africa so as to help with deeper penetration of, you guessed it, more Chinese goods, further into all parts of Africa. There are at least 1 million Chinese people now living in Africa, and the number is expected to continue to rise with more Chinese companies making Africa their new home. The Chinese Government employees up to 50% of it's own people in many of the Chinese owned/run projects in Africa. How is that fair trade?

I am not saying China is evil, neither did I think the west was evil when it tried doing the same. But anyone who thinks china is doing something different or doing better is seriously deluded.

We do not have any friends what we have are people who want to do business with us and if we are ready for business,we will be fine.

All these 'be afraid of China crusade' is led by those who are losing out to the model they once derided.
America never had my interest so I don't expect China to,my interest is my business and hopefully the middle aged/old ruling hedonists on our continent will wake up.

I propose we start looking inwards even if it means living in isolation untill we are able to attain a certain level of industrialization then we be in a better position to deal with other natoins........tis a slap on our collective national psychic the position that nigeria finds it's self! Who will take the giant leap and damm the west or east? Will democracy as praticied today allow us the flexibility to achieve that. When Gej came out to say that 4yrs aint enough to make the neede change in this country,people cried foul but i understand what he is trying to say......if it will take a Gaddifi, Abacha or even hitler to achieve that why not....or we keep dancing around our problems wishing it magically disappers. These are my personal tots....

Kobojunkie:

What fair trade are you currently enjoying or do you think you are enjoying? China has succeeded in flooding the African markets with Chinese made goods essentially eliminating much of the competition that Africa had hoped for. China takes our raw materials at low cost and floods our markets with cheap goods to annihilate the African competition at the end of the day. China is currently providing the loans to help build ports and rail across Africa so as to help with deeper penetration of, you guessed it, more Chinese goods, further into all parts of Africa. There are at least 1 million Chinese people now living in Africa, and the number is expected to continue to rise with more Chinese companies making Africa their new home. The Chinese Government employees up to 50% of it's own people in many of the Chinese owned/run projects in Africa. How is that fair trade?

I am not saying China is evil, neither did I think the west was evil when it tried doing the same. But anyone who thinks china is doing something different or doing better is seriously deluded.

we have heard. Pls, can you kindly go back to the family section cos sane minds are having a serious discussion here. Thank you

China is already making wave in African countries now the the super power nations.

Honestly i prefare chinese relationship to that of america as they seek to help and gain compare to america that will give toxic loan, negotiate and enforce bad trade on you etc all over the world every nation is turning to china. Europe, asia even south america, america's domain.

Ufeolorun: We do not have any friends what we have are people who want to do business with us and if we are ready for business,we will be fine.

All these 'be afraid of China crusade' is led by those who are losing out to the model they once derided.
America never had my interest so I don't expect China to,my interest is my business and hopefully the middle aged/old ruling hedonists on our continent will wake up.

Keep waiting for "friends" ooo. If you want to define friendship the African way of considering only those who give you and never really require you to give back, then you will wait forever. Friendship is a MUTUAL relationship, and until Africa realizes that, it will be going around the same circles it has been.

Nothing legally wrong with what the west did then and what China is doing today. They give and they take in return. You want development, they provide you loans, and take raw materials and expect to make gain at the end by shipping the finished goods back so Africans can buy and they can make more money. For all the economics wey we dey study for school, one would think that the average African would have an understanding of how business works by now.

Even good friends, relatives, have their interest even as they have yours. But if you continue to sit back expecting them to come save you, you are a waste. Same with countries. If you think your raw materials, and market share is reason enough for why the Chinese will come to Africa to save Africa, you are wasting space and it is a matter of time before all the materials are depleted and China finds it's way to some other 'lazy' capital.