Disir
Platinum Member
- Sep 30, 2011
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South Africa’s future looked bright when apartheid ended and Nelson Mandela became president. It looked hopeful when international trade and other economic ties with China strengthened, and that much more so when, in 2010, South Africa was brought into a small club of countries expected, at least by some, to play a big part in global economic growth — Brazil, Russia, India and China, plus now South Africa, the BRICS.
For a time, South Africa seemed poised to lead an era of “Africa Rising,” democratically and economically.
....To use a phrase favored by the Chinese government, many African countries would like to see more of a "win-win" in trade and investment — with China and with other partners. Some of that comes with good governance and smart negotiations that don’t end with lopsided deals greased with personal payoffs on the side. China comes in as a pragamatic player, but one that has seen the value in investing in Africa, in a way that other economic powers had not, for too long, van Staten says.
“And I think in that sense the Chinese engagement is very, very powerful, because it just presents a different way of thinking about Africa — that it's not just, 'oh you poor people, we need to help you with aid,’" he says. “Africans have become quite sensitive to that, and also quite tired of it.”
South Africa's cautionary tale
It's called putting all of your eggs in one basket.
For a time, South Africa seemed poised to lead an era of “Africa Rising,” democratically and economically.
....To use a phrase favored by the Chinese government, many African countries would like to see more of a "win-win" in trade and investment — with China and with other partners. Some of that comes with good governance and smart negotiations that don’t end with lopsided deals greased with personal payoffs on the side. China comes in as a pragamatic player, but one that has seen the value in investing in Africa, in a way that other economic powers had not, for too long, van Staten says.
“And I think in that sense the Chinese engagement is very, very powerful, because it just presents a different way of thinking about Africa — that it's not just, 'oh you poor people, we need to help you with aid,’" he says. “Africans have become quite sensitive to that, and also quite tired of it.”
South Africa's cautionary tale
It's called putting all of your eggs in one basket.
