The African continent has become a place where advanced nations have resorted to for scramble for its natural wealth. Africa is is rich in in minerals and natural resources attractive to outside forces. The fact that many African continents are still recovering from slavery makes it even more vulnerable to outside forces who come to invest in the countries to get a share of the resources. Africa has been riddled by dictators and western powers have taken advantage of this fact reducing the continent to a beggarly state. With the high rate on malnutrition, disease and death there has been increase in emigration with talented Africans going abroad to search for greener pastures.
China like any other western country has their agenda when it comes to the African continent. Their goal was to bring the arrival of global development in the sub Saharan Africa. Chinas activities in the sub-Saharan Africa may be dated back to around A.D 759 when the Han dynasty dispatched Du Huan who met with ancient Nubian cities in Eritrea and Sudan. Later another dispatch followed with the Ming dynasty that was credited for trips made in East Africa. During the cold war the soviet union greatly affected the sino African ties but china still maintained minimal role in the continent.
Globalization thus began thousands of years ago as states and governments practiced interdependence of shared love, culture and trade. Ali mazrui approaches globalization in three different and interrelated ways. He believes that the need to achieve interdependency for global economy will help world market to burgeon. The second one is that technology has ushered in a new form of communication that link people from far flung areas together especially with birth of internet but Africa is yet to benefit from this. The third one is that, globalization is creating a phenomenon where we are all in the global village as the distance between nations becomes blurred.
Globalization has enhanced free flow of finished products from Africa to the western continents. It is not uncommon to find more western manufactured materials in Africa markets as African goods and services in the western markets. The north-south collaboration which mazrui says benefited the north more than south. The north south collaboration did not really work well and this caused an imbalance in the neocolonial culture. This changed the definition of globalization as a disguised form of exploitation where the influence of the west on the rest of the developing countries is overwhelming. China development model shows how it reciprocates to African societies. China uses the social organization in such a way that state and society coexist this showed similarities to some societies in sub Saharan. When it comes to their economic development model they are unique as they do not follow the western free market economy. In reference to the government it intervenes in land distribution, natural resource allocations, the banking sector regulations and most importantly the international transactions.
The colonial powers left Africa in the 1960s with an exception of the Portuguese who left in the 1970s. This prompted the beginning of governments that were smeared with corruption and dictatorship which paved way for neo colonization. World Bank and IMF took this opportunity to provide help for African countries to improve on the economic development of their countries. After the funding the expatriates from all fields were now welcomed in Africa this rekindled partnership for development of Africa. The analogies associated by the association of Africa and Asia which helped the continent which provided profits for the export of mineral deposits.
China executed measures that would be capable of providing economic developments in Africa. Some of the major ones were to help poorer countries cancel their debts in the form of all interest free government loans. The Chinese government would then open up its market to the African continent increasing from 190 to over 440 in the number of export items. They would also establish three to five trade and economic corporations in Africa. The implications of the relationship of the china Africa relationship has been of crucial benefits to the continent. One of the implications which is varied as an advantage and disadvantage is to deepen and broaden mutual beneficial cooperation in political relations, international affairs and social development. This was an important part of the Sino Africa agreement in which both countries agreed that china will not interfere with the internal affairs of any nation. Though this is an advantage it can be categorized as a disadvantage due to the political instability of in Africa. The relationship of china and Africa has created long lasting friendship which will help them diplomatically, financially and military. A downside of this benefit is the renewed Chinese interests in Africa from previous repressive regimes.
Scholars argue that the relationship between the Chinese does not favor the ordinary street folk but the African governments. Their aim is to curtail western domination in Africa. So their target is not to improve living standards in Africa for the ordinary folk but rather pursue private goals.
The main target for many western countries was to strongly be in control of Africa, their target was not actually a ‘civilizing mission’ but it was to drain the continent of its resources. With china aiding Africa strongly their many underlying questions on the motive of its involvement. As china has developed so has the need of natural resources been enhanced by providing such strong aid to the African continent it is probable that they are blocking the interest of the other major players in the world. Many analysts following the developmental impacts of Africa on the trade with china have concluded to say that the non interference on political decisions makes them the best partner. By decrying the west multiparty democracy china is playing a hypocritical role by imposing dictatorship on its people the countries are mainly affected the politics of the African governments. The west support democracy as it makes the government more representative and accountable to its people. By doing business in Africa and at the same time protecting dictators has demonstrated high handedness and cruelty to its people. Genuine business for long term goals and sustenance warrants transparency freedom and peace. Without these cardinal goals been met the long term goals of china partnership in Africa are in jeopardy.
With the cheap Chinese exports flooding the African markets may stifle growth of African goods and services. This mainly affects local based productions as the exports of Chinese textiles to the United States are shutting down the promising growth of African exports. In this case many businessmen have nowhere to turn and African countries need to realize that a kind of protectionist policy to counter the influence of Chinese goods to their market is critical.
Solutions need to be sourced out to protect the African continent and improve its economic growth. Africans should take charge and make the difficult decisions in developing their economies without the help of international aide. A kind of mental revolution is needed whereby Africans need to come to the conclusion that individual wealth and power do not satisfy long term positive goals for the country. A country like Zimbabwe faces economic hardships because of poor governance. Africa needs to understand that Africa is not a milking cow and those international investors from exploitation of resources which poses impunity in the country. When it comes to the benefits derived from its relation with china it shows that the deals performed are not beneficial. Africa does not have any special advantage on the bargaining table. This will require that African leaders need to come to their senses and invest huge amounts of resources in training engineers which will reduce outsourcing. It is important that African leaders embrace and people to put aside greed, corruption and economic and political disengagement. They should pursue a system of good governance; adhere to democratic principles to promote economic growth in partnerships and by encouraging local investments from within the continent. By doing so, they will improve on the development of the economy and provide more opportunities to its people through jobs. Economic development will enhance the stability required to steer the nations to better themselves and provide for their citizens.
Reference
Langmia, K. (2011). The secret weapon of globalisation: Chinas activities in Sub saharan activities. journal of third world studies , 1-18.
