Institute of Development Studies

China and Africa: positives and negatives in the new world order

19 May 2010

Renowned journalist and director of the Royal African Society, Richard Dowden, visited the Institute of Development Studies on 12 May to explore the topic ‘China and Africa: positives and negatives in the new world order' as part of the China and Africa in development seminar series.

Initial interest

Dowden began his seminar by highlighting the discomfort that many in the West feel about China's growing interest in Africa. Throughout the talk Dowden reiterated that China is committed to gaining ‘respect' internationally. This need for respect may temper their behaviour Africa. In 2000 China was interested in Africa for its raw materials, however it has since become about, ‘getting votes in the UN as a stepping stone to greater respect.'

Pudding too hot to eat

‘The pudding [Africa] was too hot for the West to eat, so they left it in the kitchen to cool down, and only when China came in the back door and ate it, did they show their interest.' Dowden explained that the combination of the Chinese entrepreneurial spirit and an extremely strong work ethic meant that they stayed in areas to build businesses and infrastructure regardless of financial risk or war. ‘Westerners' Dowden stated ‘did not dare work in some areas, but Chinese workers stay on in parts of Africa where no Westerners dared to go, for example Burundi.'

It is in this vein he detailed that the work that China has done is tangible. He recalled a conversation with someone from Sierra Leone ‘when the Chinese come here you can see what they have done, when the West have been here, we are only told about it.'

Chinese investment has had a huge benefit on ordinary Africans. They have eliminated the ‘dead white men' era of second hand clothes - a Somali phrase that describes piles of second-hand western clothes coming to Africa - by manufacturing cheap goods that Africans can afford.

There used to be an expectation by some African nations that there should be some colonial support. Dowden recalled that Robert Mugabe once put pressure on Tony Blair to deliver aid. For Africa, the relationship with China is a move away from old colonial ‘hang ups' and from dependency. Mugabe has recently stated ‘we have turned east, where the sun rises, and given our back to the west, where the sun sets.'

Blind engagement

The totalitarian nature of the Chinese government means that if China were to demand democracy it would be hypocritical. Because the Chinese insist on only engaging with the government, it strengthens it ‘good or bad - and keeps everyone in power.'

‘It is extremely frustrating when people say it's up to Africans' Dowden continued ‘which Africans do they mean? African elites who are immensely wealthy? Or people out in the bush that are very poor?' China's blind engagement with Africa has done little to resolve this massive divide that dominates most African countries.

Additionally, many African manufacturers have been put out of business and now, as the author Paul Collier says ‘will have no chance of stepping into the manufacturers' world.' Since the Chinese presence in Africa became prominent, South Africa has lost 70,000 jobs in the textiles business.

Furthermore, ‘there is a clear difference between the Chinese work ethic and how things are done in Africa.' For example, after they have built roads and railways and leave, many African governments do not have the managerial expertise to maintain the infrastructure which then goes into disrepair. The Chinese have a sense that they have fulfilled their side of the contract so do not need to do any more. This is testament to their lack of understanding about the African culture where a disorganised pre-colonial power structure still thrives.

Future

Dowden ended the seminar with several thoughts for what the future may hold for this relationship between China and Africa. China is clearly in Africa for the long-term, but what could come from this engagement remains ambiguous. Whether this liaison will help Africa's development remains to be seen.

Image: Sven Torfinn/ Panos

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• China's Private Sector Investment and the Investment Climate in Africa - Based on extensive fieldwork interviews in China and Africa, this project examines the role of Chinese private enterprises in Africa. (2007 - 2009)
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