Opinion / Columnist
America Sino-Soviet relations and its implication to African foreign policy and development
12 Feb 2016 at 10:27hrs | Views
Bearing in mind that at the signing of Sino-Soviet relations soon after the World War 11 China made a declaration: "After the founding of the People's Republic, the Chinese leadership was concerned above all with ensuring national security, consolidating power, and developing the economy. The foreign policy course China chose in order to translate these goals into reality was to form an international united front with the Soviet Union and other socialist nations against the United States and Japan. Although for a time Chinese leaders may have considered trying to balance Sino-Soviet relations with ties with Washington, by mid1949 Mao Zedong declared that China had no choice but to "lean to one side"--meaning the Soviet side." ( see Country Studies.us/china/128.htm)
On-going Presidential electoral processes in the United States of America have a bearing on world politics and in particular its impact on the current and future African foreign relations in consolidation of her sovereignty, independence and freedom. America is a democracy and as such, political parties' contestations center on achievable economic and ideological perspectives than sheer hopes and wishes narrative. I make a brief comparative study of America and Sino-Soviet relations and the impact it has on African political behavior on foreign policy formulations. Has, for example African tyrannical tendencies any bearing from foreign influence and if so who?
Watching American electoral processes, no doubt one sees the dynamism demonstrated in the freedom of speech at its highest displaying the maturity political processes take even though naivety has its moments occasionally. Both humour and seriousness characterises the American political democratic processes. The conclusion is in contrasting the dry humour typical prevalent in African politics except for threats and punishment on opposition political parties including harsh punitive actions of arrests and jailing of opponents.
One asks a relevant question: Is what happens in western democratic processes foreign to Africa and its leadership or is it simply that fear of defeat overwhelms political leaders on the African continent making them resort to Chimpanzees and guerilla warfare tactics to win than follow free and fair electoral process?
Today in the United States of America unperceived but overwhelming preliminary victory of Bernie Sanders as an independent democrat against Hillary Clinton baffles good judgement and experience on best practices in governance. Speaking so much on revolution as a weapon for change raises eyebrows on American philosophy of liberty and freedom. Could it be that this is the polishing of democratic democrats from outside to within in order to accommodate and improve Sino-Soviet relations? Doubtful as this may appear on face value, the American society is changing. In his address of 10 February 2016 on CNN television to his hometown constituency of Illinois in the General Assembly President Obama admits that American politics is tough regretting though at the ugly hand of mistrust between American parties that still looms in the background. Race relations have their ugly hand also.
The perception on change in the world everywhere by the young generation standards today is a slow process. American political system thrives on competition and efficient employment of labour and capital. American capitalist system depends on the strength of rule of law and support of the New York Wall Street money merchants. Is Bernie Sanders realistic to promise people to fight and put down capitalism from its foundations or are we missing something in the narration? This though is very interesting to African people who must be eager to see radical change in a western economy.
American democratic culture has further developed a capitalist niche called ‘super packs' in politics. Suffice, to say the dynamics of intra-political conflicts against economic control of power is an advantage used by those with interests in supporting presidential candidates. Ironically, super packs preserve a system that thrives on safeguarding inequalities. In the context of the above , are ‘super packs' not a better way to deal with reality check on fast tracking development towards employment creation using the same money owners to cooperate with government? It is debatable and could be pro-development. China, for example, has created money but has not achieved the high mark on human respect and freedoms which stages are haunting Africa still in her choice of economic alliance and foreign relations policy formulations.
Rather difficult position to swallow when looked at from a formerly colonized and disadvantaged country, but, however, realistic to agree that it suggests that more money creates a more jobs situation pushing for equality by creating more and better wage earning jobs. The concern is whether a revolution can be sweet and enjoyable when radically displacing ‘haves' with ‘have-nots'? Has this not caused worry over the destabilization of a democracy? The balance is what lacks in order to gear an economy for growth under a safeguarded transition.
Invariably a one-man government for many years is neither a choice of the suffering Africans either. The painful reality of African-western foreign relations is that unlike western nations where debate sharpen prudence in national decision making processes, Africa thrives on suppression of opinions and views against the government of the day. Africa has few choices on foreign friends. For a start, she prematurely disengaged herself from former colonies without having developed a better negotiations stance in her foreign and economic development policies. Today she gasps in desperation meandering between Sino-Soviet, American and European foreign relations strategies.
It is strange that even though both China and Russia hate western control they have a permanent seat at the UN while they cannot ask the same for Africa. Africa is pushing for permanent seat at the UN with great difficult because she has no consensus on who can be that country. In my opinion, the push to come out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) again confirms the fears of African citizens on bad governance intention by African governments from this move. One feature of Sino-Soviet poor influence on Africa is the lack of respect for human rights. Arrest, detentions and possibly death for political detainees is common in China and Russia same as in Africa.
Although evidence on internal interference by western nations into African political violent states is and was an open secret, African leaders regrettably, appear unable to learn anything from repeated evidence of bad history. Foreign relations has been used as a defense tool for attacking than a lobbying device to pave the way for better understanding based on mutual respect. When both Mugabe and Gaddaffi were installed Chairmen of the AU, they both made it a practice to castigate other world leaders under UN pretext. This was and is bad diplomatic relations practice.
The question though is whether such frontal attacks on western leaders improved relations among African, American and European nations or made it worse. An American European coalition responded by attacking Libya dictator Gaddafi enabling citizens of that country to trigger serious civil war still simmering than quelling today. One of the salient features therefore of Robert Mugabe and Maummar Gaddafi foreign policy collaboration was that they precipitated mature democracies to protect brutality meted on Libyans who were lobbying against Gaddafi savagery from both inside and outside.
Africa has to learn to choose smart diplomats as leaders who strategically promote their nations and African Union affairs than putting second-rate failures that are running down their economies and ill-treat citizens. Political democratic processes such as recently demonstrated through Tanzania national elections displayed maturity in internal political party dialogues. Permission for international observers marked a strong departure from politics of fear characteristically a dictatorial content.
In 2013 American junior Central Intelligence Agent technician unlawfully withheld national valuable security information and voluntarily surrendered himself in the hands of the archenemy of America, Russia. The story of Edward Snowden become world news headlines and remained for a while until it died a ‘natural' death. Edward Snowden is a youth trusted then with sensitive information on his country of birth.
America is changing gradually and not dramatic as voters may anticipate from tones of campaigners in 2016. The only fear is that American youths may fall victims into the hands of Sino-Soviet demagogy literature deliberately placed to attract traction and destabilization. The worry is once they are in that network it may be difficult since all nature of revolutionary cabbage may resonate with its fury accomplishment. Race relations escalating crisis of violent outbursts depicts the world influence from what is surrounding us. Americans aught do their best avoiding words too strong for their political culture?
Could the surging of Bernie Sanders as an independent democrat in Presidential contestation be a tribute to President Valdmir Putin of Russia for great counter-intelligence through none political American population to draw back western civilization founded on capitalism? It is without explanations and bad coincidence that Snowden sought Russia as his domicile for asylum. Changes in American political perceptions among the semi-literate population could be to trigger American downfall in influence. The world has become a battle for emotional intelligence dividing the world into east and West influencing ideological centers.
Africa at independence in the 1960s urged for 100% alignment to western nations by virtue of cultural and economic dependence. Africa has, however, since sought disengagement from western influence through a none-alignment policy. Non-alignment initiatives were then eastern bloc Nations efforts to reduced western influence in the world while strengthening its collective bargaining authority at world bodies such as United Nations.
China, more than Russia, has made inroads investing on Sino-African partnership in railway lines; mining technology and reducing African IMF debt through soft loans. No doubt, a strong and promising foreign relations pack is growing between Africa and Sino-Soviet bloc that keeps reducing European and American influence on the continent. Time will tell how Russia in particular want to contest for world supremacy and political control and influence on Africa and the Middle East against American and European nations.
Ten years ago, Russia was insignificant in the Middle East political equation unlike today where Russia involvement in peace brokerage is a prerequisite for ceasing hostility. Russia though has no record of developing new nations. Self-management discipline than sheer dependence for the sake of it proves why Africa compared, for example to Malaysia is still poor. Africa is growing dependent on Sino-Soviet foreign policy hoping to build strong independent economies away from western nations influence.
On-going Presidential electoral processes in the United States of America have a bearing on world politics and in particular its impact on the current and future African foreign relations in consolidation of her sovereignty, independence and freedom. America is a democracy and as such, political parties' contestations center on achievable economic and ideological perspectives than sheer hopes and wishes narrative. I make a brief comparative study of America and Sino-Soviet relations and the impact it has on African political behavior on foreign policy formulations. Has, for example African tyrannical tendencies any bearing from foreign influence and if so who?
Watching American electoral processes, no doubt one sees the dynamism demonstrated in the freedom of speech at its highest displaying the maturity political processes take even though naivety has its moments occasionally. Both humour and seriousness characterises the American political democratic processes. The conclusion is in contrasting the dry humour typical prevalent in African politics except for threats and punishment on opposition political parties including harsh punitive actions of arrests and jailing of opponents.
One asks a relevant question: Is what happens in western democratic processes foreign to Africa and its leadership or is it simply that fear of defeat overwhelms political leaders on the African continent making them resort to Chimpanzees and guerilla warfare tactics to win than follow free and fair electoral process?
Today in the United States of America unperceived but overwhelming preliminary victory of Bernie Sanders as an independent democrat against Hillary Clinton baffles good judgement and experience on best practices in governance. Speaking so much on revolution as a weapon for change raises eyebrows on American philosophy of liberty and freedom. Could it be that this is the polishing of democratic democrats from outside to within in order to accommodate and improve Sino-Soviet relations? Doubtful as this may appear on face value, the American society is changing. In his address of 10 February 2016 on CNN television to his hometown constituency of Illinois in the General Assembly President Obama admits that American politics is tough regretting though at the ugly hand of mistrust between American parties that still looms in the background. Race relations have their ugly hand also.
The perception on change in the world everywhere by the young generation standards today is a slow process. American political system thrives on competition and efficient employment of labour and capital. American capitalist system depends on the strength of rule of law and support of the New York Wall Street money merchants. Is Bernie Sanders realistic to promise people to fight and put down capitalism from its foundations or are we missing something in the narration? This though is very interesting to African people who must be eager to see radical change in a western economy.
American democratic culture has further developed a capitalist niche called ‘super packs' in politics. Suffice, to say the dynamics of intra-political conflicts against economic control of power is an advantage used by those with interests in supporting presidential candidates. Ironically, super packs preserve a system that thrives on safeguarding inequalities. In the context of the above , are ‘super packs' not a better way to deal with reality check on fast tracking development towards employment creation using the same money owners to cooperate with government? It is debatable and could be pro-development. China, for example, has created money but has not achieved the high mark on human respect and freedoms which stages are haunting Africa still in her choice of economic alliance and foreign relations policy formulations.
Rather difficult position to swallow when looked at from a formerly colonized and disadvantaged country, but, however, realistic to agree that it suggests that more money creates a more jobs situation pushing for equality by creating more and better wage earning jobs. The concern is whether a revolution can be sweet and enjoyable when radically displacing ‘haves' with ‘have-nots'? Has this not caused worry over the destabilization of a democracy? The balance is what lacks in order to gear an economy for growth under a safeguarded transition.
Invariably a one-man government for many years is neither a choice of the suffering Africans either. The painful reality of African-western foreign relations is that unlike western nations where debate sharpen prudence in national decision making processes, Africa thrives on suppression of opinions and views against the government of the day. Africa has few choices on foreign friends. For a start, she prematurely disengaged herself from former colonies without having developed a better negotiations stance in her foreign and economic development policies. Today she gasps in desperation meandering between Sino-Soviet, American and European foreign relations strategies.
Although evidence on internal interference by western nations into African political violent states is and was an open secret, African leaders regrettably, appear unable to learn anything from repeated evidence of bad history. Foreign relations has been used as a defense tool for attacking than a lobbying device to pave the way for better understanding based on mutual respect. When both Mugabe and Gaddaffi were installed Chairmen of the AU, they both made it a practice to castigate other world leaders under UN pretext. This was and is bad diplomatic relations practice.
The question though is whether such frontal attacks on western leaders improved relations among African, American and European nations or made it worse. An American European coalition responded by attacking Libya dictator Gaddafi enabling citizens of that country to trigger serious civil war still simmering than quelling today. One of the salient features therefore of Robert Mugabe and Maummar Gaddafi foreign policy collaboration was that they precipitated mature democracies to protect brutality meted on Libyans who were lobbying against Gaddafi savagery from both inside and outside.
Africa has to learn to choose smart diplomats as leaders who strategically promote their nations and African Union affairs than putting second-rate failures that are running down their economies and ill-treat citizens. Political democratic processes such as recently demonstrated through Tanzania national elections displayed maturity in internal political party dialogues. Permission for international observers marked a strong departure from politics of fear characteristically a dictatorial content.
In 2013 American junior Central Intelligence Agent technician unlawfully withheld national valuable security information and voluntarily surrendered himself in the hands of the archenemy of America, Russia. The story of Edward Snowden become world news headlines and remained for a while until it died a ‘natural' death. Edward Snowden is a youth trusted then with sensitive information on his country of birth.
America is changing gradually and not dramatic as voters may anticipate from tones of campaigners in 2016. The only fear is that American youths may fall victims into the hands of Sino-Soviet demagogy literature deliberately placed to attract traction and destabilization. The worry is once they are in that network it may be difficult since all nature of revolutionary cabbage may resonate with its fury accomplishment. Race relations escalating crisis of violent outbursts depicts the world influence from what is surrounding us. Americans aught do their best avoiding words too strong for their political culture?
Could the surging of Bernie Sanders as an independent democrat in Presidential contestation be a tribute to President Valdmir Putin of Russia for great counter-intelligence through none political American population to draw back western civilization founded on capitalism? It is without explanations and bad coincidence that Snowden sought Russia as his domicile for asylum. Changes in American political perceptions among the semi-literate population could be to trigger American downfall in influence. The world has become a battle for emotional intelligence dividing the world into east and West influencing ideological centers.
Africa at independence in the 1960s urged for 100% alignment to western nations by virtue of cultural and economic dependence. Africa has, however, since sought disengagement from western influence through a none-alignment policy. Non-alignment initiatives were then eastern bloc Nations efforts to reduced western influence in the world while strengthening its collective bargaining authority at world bodies such as United Nations.
China, more than Russia, has made inroads investing on Sino-African partnership in railway lines; mining technology and reducing African IMF debt through soft loans. No doubt, a strong and promising foreign relations pack is growing between Africa and Sino-Soviet bloc that keeps reducing European and American influence on the continent. Time will tell how Russia in particular want to contest for world supremacy and political control and influence on Africa and the Middle East against American and European nations.
Ten years ago, Russia was insignificant in the Middle East political equation unlike today where Russia involvement in peace brokerage is a prerequisite for ceasing hostility. Russia though has no record of developing new nations. Self-management discipline than sheer dependence for the sake of it proves why Africa compared, for example to Malaysia is still poor. Africa is growing dependent on Sino-Soviet foreign policy hoping to build strong independent economies away from western nations influence.
Source - Andrew M Manyevere
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