ChinainAfrica

“Conquer English to make China stronger!!” is the slogan of Li Yang’s Crazy English course in Beijing, part of the country’s program to teach itself as much English as possible before the start of the Olympics this August. 

Li’s classes - held often in large arenas and auditoriums in a way analogous to American megachurches - attract large followings, making him a sort of “Elvis of English” for many Chinese. Some followers even go so far as to donate blood just to be able to attend his lectures, while others faint in the crowds as if at a Beatles concert. Whether these ardent fans are actually learning English remains unclear.

What is clear, however, is that this “crazy English” program is one of the few instances of visible populism in China since the Cultural Revolution. Having taught himself English - and in China, no less -  Li exemplifies the possibilities available to common Chinese citizens and, perhaps even more the the CCP itself, is a mobilizing agent for the country’s move towards modernization.

Whether Li’s courses have anything to do with the CCP is unknown (at least to this writer), though I’d be surprised if some links didn’t exist. Li does not claim to love the West, and instead describes it as an imperialist power set on infiltrating China with its customs and culture. His insistence on English is thus derived from a recognized need to close the gap between English-speaking and non-English speaking countries, rather than from any particular affinity towards all things Western.

More than an English course, Crazy English appears to be a way of liberating millions of Chinese from centuries of cultural indoctrination and making available to them a world beyond their own. As noted in a post on Ampontan: 

“Calling the program Crazy English is a stroke of genius. It provides the students with the justification for liberating themselves from centuries of cultural conditioning that expected people to be reserved and act within a group context instead of being openly assertive as individuals. Crazy people get to do anything they want.”

And what many Chinese want, it seems, is to be modern citizens in a modern-day world. Luckily for the CCP, this is what it wants of its citizens, too.

A link to a report which was adopted by the European Parliament on 23 April 2008, China’s policy and its effects in Africa. Note especially the sections on ’sustainable development’ and ‘trade, investment and infrastructures.’ 

A colleague recently forwarded me an interesting post appearing on Global Voices on the Chinese presence in Egypt:

“Knocks on the door. She told me in broken Arabic: “Wanna buy something Chinese?”

I would normally say: “No, thanks” to them and close the door … But this time my house was full of people so I asked her to come in.

She put the bag she was carrying with her on the floor and started to show me the goods she had. Tablecloths, cloths and cosmetics. I was looking at her, with a lot of questions inside me. Not about what she sold as it’s known since they started to invade the country by themselves rather than exporting their goods to us only. But what forced her to do such hard job, and travel away from her homeland with a backpack like a camel hump…”

The post goes on to observe that the Chinese are the only people who will go door to door, arriving in poor countries and selling poor goods. With an estimated 300 million poor in China, however, such desperate manifestations of capitalism are anything but surprising.

Hello all! First, I am most pleased to announce that I have finally emerged from the depths of dissertation writing and, as of yesterday afternoon, am more or less a free woman. This, I hope will translate to more consistent and frequent blog updates. Indeed, many developments have taken place during my absence. I surely cannot even so much as begin to do them all justice in this one entry, so I’ll begin with my personal favorite: the Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe.

Earlier this month, a shipment of ammunition, rockets and mortar bombs was denied access through South Africa. The weapons were en route to Zimbabwe, and it is believed that they would be used to crush the Zimbabwean opposition following the 29 March 2008 election. On 22 April Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu noted that the shipment is “normal” and that it is common in international trade to transport goods inland to African countries through the port in Durban, South Africa. 

So many questions can be asked of this one comment that it’s actually quite phenomenal. The first that comes to mind is: who in the Chinese government allows for such statements to be made? Anyone who has been tracking African politics in the past month or so can very quickly gauge that the uproar has little to do with the shipment’s entry point. It has to do with the shipment itself, and the political situation in its destination state. If nothing else, China’s position on the matter is indicative of a seeming ignorance of foreign affairs, which is quickly damaging China’s international standing.

But, of course, the Chinese are not ignorant and are well aware of the Zimbabwean plight. By continuing with business as usual they are likely trying to live up to their ‘non-interference’ policy, which has long fallen by the wayside. As Christopher Clapman observes in his new book (written together with Chris Alden and Ricardo Soares de Oliveira), “In the longer term, no external power with long-term interests in Africa can escape the issue of ‘governance’, because this is the essential precondition for maintaining stable economic relationships.” In case the Chinese haven’t yet reconciled themselves to this reality, it’s high time they do so - and fast. 

Indeed, there is much speculation over China’s motives behind such a shipment, at such a time. Some blame political alliances, enmeshed as they are in unthinkable levels of corruption. Others point to economics and international trade between the two countries. Yet no one, it seems, has the gall to suggest another, more likely, alternative: the Chinese simply don’t care. 

Despite their claims of foreign aid assistance, concern for human rights, etc., etc. there is very little proving that the Chinese actually have any interest in such matters. As in Darfur before, the Chinese are little concerned with assisting the people of Zimbabwe or helping to alleviate the situation. To the extent that any assistance will be given, it will be nothing more than a token gesture that will have little to no tangible impact. The arms deal with Zimbabwe is, above all else, profitable for the Chinese. Profit aside, little else matters. China isn’t going to be a hero for the African people. Not now, not ever. And with this recent arms shipment the proof, it seems, is in the pudding.

Dear All:

A quick word of apology for my absence. I have been - and continue to be - in the thick of writing up my MPhil dissertation. It will be complete and submitted on 21 April and I look forward to resuming correspondence then. Writing up has been quite a journey, and has brought many new insights. I look forward to sharing them with you soon.

Cheers, Aleksandra (Alex) :)