China recently convened an online seminar 22 French-speaking African countries to discuss democracy. The online meeting, on “The Exploration and Practice of Democracy in Chinese and African Legislative Bodies” drew in members of China’s National People’s Assembly, and about 90 African representatives.
That the April 26 and 27 event focused on democracy would surprise many. After all, the Chinese political model is not known for its democratic characteristics. We have also seen a democratic decline in several African countries, particularly in French-speaking Africa.
This seminar follows a series of meetings, political and academic, which are increasingly organized with African political decision-makers and which focus on the central theme of rapprochement between China and Africa.
After loans and major infrastructure projects, Beijing now seems to want to build the foundation for a more substantial relationship with francophone Africa by highlighting historical and political similarities, as well as common aspirations.
The use of the term democracy reveals how much Beijing has appropriated and reframed it according to its own approach. Ding Zhongli, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, emphasized that democracy should take particular forms according to each country where it’s practiced. This viewpoint is echoed in several African countries, where there are more and more questions about “Western democracy” and its effectiveness in Africa. Calls for a form of “intrinsic democracy” and a political system specific to Africa are becoming more frequent among politicians and intellectuals and even in the media.
While the effectiveness of the Western democratic model is being questioned on the continent, Beijing highlights its own version, where the emphasis is placed on political stability, the organization of the State and the effectiveness of governance. This discourse ends up carving a niche for Beijing in Africa, which affords it an opportunity to export its political model, or to create a more amenable international environment for it. The opening of a school of political leadership in Tanzania last February seems to follow this logic. It aims to train leaders of ruling parties in Angola, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Beijing has maintained close military and ideological relations with the ruling parties of these countries, and reveals the importance of party-to-party diplomacy in its engagement in Africa.
With Africa in search of itself, it would therefore not be surprising if China were tempted to fill the political vacuum by exporting its political model. However, the complexity of African societies would suggest caution. Aware of this complexity, one might wonder if China really aims to shape the African political landscape by replicating its political model or if it is simply a question of creating a political environment more favorable and closer to it?
Suggested Readings
- Le Projet Afrique Chine: Le parti communiste chinois fait la promotion de son modèle au près des partis au pouvoir en Afrique by Christian-Geraud Neema
- CGTN : China-Africa Relations: Officials exchange views on democratic practices
