Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Africa and China

Bigthink — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:25:33 +0100

Someone needs to help Africa, even with strings attached. How many choices does Africa have?

Comment on: Africa and China

Bigthink — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:03:15 +0100

I'm not sure why we would choose to speak of "africa" it is a continent, fast and diverse. To characterize any relationship on such a large scale doesn%u2019t seem to bring us anywhere beyond %u201Cgood%u201D and %u201Cbad%u201D. If the concern is development (of infrastructure, civil society, etc) there are many strategies to examine, many factors that come into play. USAID for example has diversified their educational assistance in Ghana to encourage community participation.
Having a choice between pepsi and coke is perhaps more interesting, but not profoundly more so than just having coke. Exponentially more complexity relationships need to be examined.

Comment on: Africa and China

Bigthink — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:47:56 +0100

Chinese investment gives African nations a choice, an alternative to Western imposed development that hasn't necessarily been effective. There is a sense of dignity that derives from having the right to choose. Choice allows nations to take control over their progress and 'develop' on their own terms. Choice is freedom.

In the West, we despise monopolies because they hinder innovation and slow progress. Have not certain Western nations historically and recently monopolized the development of Africa? Why is there not widespread outrage over this in the West?

I am hopeful that the more investment options that are presented to African nations, be it from China or Canada or Brazil (wherever), the faster the progress will be in Africa. African governments may not make the 'right' choices, but at least they will be their choices.

(Aside: Of course, democratically elected governments are better able to make choices in the best interest of the people.)

Comment on: Africa and China

Bigthink — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:35:38 +0100

What about the fact that Chinese investment in Sudan is indirectly funding the genocide in Darfur?? (or the problems in Burma, etc)

Just because the iconic 'west' made mistakes does not mean other people/countries/actors can and should, too. One wrong does not legitimize another.