cover of episode [WEEK IN REVIEW] Who Gets to Tell the China-Africa Story?

[WEEK IN REVIEW] Who Gets to Tell the China-Africa Story?

2025/2/6
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The China in Africa Podcast
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E
Eric Olander
专注于分析中国在全球南方的技术创新和影响的媒体人物和分析师。
G
Géraud
K
Kobus Van Staden
Topics
Eric Olander: 作为一名美国白人，我受邀在新加坡谈论中非关系，这引起了一些非洲代表的不满，他们认为应该由非洲人来讲述自己的故事。我理解他们的感受，也同意应该有更多的非洲学者和声音参与到中非关系的讨论中来。但同时，我也认为，只要我们的分析是基于事实和数据，并且不带有偏见，那么任何人都有权参与到这个话题的讨论中来。重要的是要确保非洲的声音能够被听到，并且他们的观点能够得到尊重。 Géraud: 我认为埃里克遇到的情况是多种因素叠加的结果。首先，长期以来，非洲人一直对非非洲人谈论中非关系感到沮丧。其次，作为一名美国白人，在中美关系紧张的背景下谈论中非关系，需要格外小心。最后，在新加坡这样一个第三方国家讨论中非关系，而没有非洲人的参与，这让非洲决策者感到不悦。在这种情况下，任何非洲决策者或知识分子都不会轻易接受你的观点，特别是当你的论点与他们期望的中非关系不符时。 Kobus Van Staden: 我认为埃里克在演讲中试图表达的观点是，非洲作为中国的商品来源地变得不那么重要，但作为政治伙伴变得更加重要。然而，许多非洲人难以接受这种观点，他们更看重钴、锂等资源的地缘政治价值。重要的是要认识到，西方学术界在追踪中非关系时，往往带有西方的考量，这可能会导致对非洲的叙事产生偏差。因此，我们需要更多来自非洲的声音，以平衡西方视角，并确保对中非关系的理解更加全面和客观。

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Chinese engagement in Africa is seen by many people as a classic example of neo-colonial exploitation. China, according to the narrative, is merely the latest in a long line of predatory foreigners seeking to drain the continent's vast reserves of oil, minerals, and timber.

The narrative that frames the Chinese as the aggressors and Africans as the victims has largely been defined by U.S., European, and Indian entities over the past several decades and fits neatly into African historical traumas that help explain why so many people feel this way even though it doesn't comport with the evidence.

This week, Eric, Géraud, and Cobus discuss why these narratives are so durable and then explore the sensitive issue of who should be empowered to tell the China-Africa story.

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