Beware of the dragon: Africa should not look to China

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 23 December 2014

⏱️ 99 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We all know that the Chinese are the neo-colonialists of Africa. They've plundered the continent of its natural resources, tossing aside any concern for human rights and doing deals with some of the world's most unsavoury regimes. The relentless pursuit of growth is China's only spur. But is this picture really fair? In Angola, for example, China's low-interest loans have been tied to a scheme that has ensured that roads, schools and other infrastructure has been built. China has an impressive track record of lifting its own millions out of poverty and can do the same for Africa. And is the West's record in Africa as glowing as we like to think? After decades of pouring aid into Africa, how much have we actually achieved in terms of reducing poverty, corruption and war? So which way should Africa look for salvation - to the West, to China, or perhaps to its own people? Defending the motion in our debate from 28th November 2011 were Ghanaian economist and author George Ayittey and Portuguese MEP Ana Maria... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:08.0	Welcome to the Kuduggen Hall and to tonight's debate which is Beware the Dragon, Africa should not look to China.
1:19.0	We've got a distinguished panel who I shall introduce one by one as they go up and speak.
1:27.2	This is a topic which has been something which has been exercising people here I would say for the last five years or so
1:35.8	but it's ever more important because with the European and American economies flatlining and China steaming ahead and African economies also
	...

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