Unless they’ve got viable plans for a stable economy with reliable exports controlled by non-corrupt leadership, someone is going to step in to fill the void, and China and Russia are already vying for the position.

[–] zephyreks@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

China at least tries to develop the economy. China isn't really desperate for cheap natural resources as much as they are desperate for markets to export their manufactured goods.

Shifting these economies away from being entirely resource-based is the single greatest thing anyone can do to reduce poverty in the region.

[–] Suoko@feddit.it 9 points 1 year ago

China invested a lot into African hydroelectric power plants, apparently with a modest ROI

[+] orizuru@lemmy.sdf.org -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

[removed by mod]

[–] zephyreks@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Are you under the impression that China hasn't seen salary growth in the past few decades and thus can outcompete them? China's median salary today is a third of the US and China's median salary in tier 1 cities is almost on par in some fields.

There's a limit because it means that these less-developed countries can't leapfrog the Chinese economy while depending solely on Chinese support, but that's a problem for after economic independence and consistent economic growth are achieved.

[–] emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Salaries are only a part of the total cost. China obviously has much higher salaries, but their supply chains are a lot more efficient. Also cheap imports can prevent the growth of domestic manufacturing in the first place, since the initial investment can be quite high.

[–] zephyreks@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Salaries are an extremely significant proportion of costs in low- and medium-skill manufacturing. Sure, Africa might not be producing semiconductors this decade, but labour share is still something like 40-50% in China. This is despite China's shift towards high-skill manufacturing and high value-add products. For low-skill manufacturing and low value-add products, China is simply no longer cost-competitive to the alternatives because human labour is the primary productivity driver and automation is incredibly expensive.

Africa isn't going to be dumping tens of billions of dollars on semiconductor foundries and nobody is suggesting that. What people are suggesting is that Africa can move into categories like auto and appliances instead of textiles.

[–] pinkdrunkenelephants@lemmy.cafe 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's pretty fucking racist, my dude. Most countries around the world are intolerably corrupt; it doesn't mean they should expect or tolerate colonization by others.

[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m obviously blind to the racism; which race am I applying stereotypes to with my comment about power vacuums?

Or is it my pointed jab at colonialism that’s got you thinking I approve? I’ve been calling out the situation in that region of the world for decades. I really hope they can put together some self-governance that holds up. But in the past, every attempt has fallen to corruption taken advantage of by some external power broker that definitely doesn’t have their best interests at heart.

[–] pinkdrunkenelephants@lemmy.cafe 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The fact that you're blaming them for being colonized and hiding behind their government's rampant corruption to do it.

The U.S. government has been so deeply compromised for decades that it might actually result in the destruction of life on this planet. Does that mean China or Russia can just bust in and take over?

[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not blaming them at all; that’s on you.

I AM saying that due to the type of corruption currently set up in the country, kicking out the US and inviting China in is just replacing one colonialism for another.

What they really need to do is set up their own government with the backing of the AfCFTA signatories and reject any assistance from the West, China and Russia (including the World Bank) that comes with strings attached. Then the people need to make the leadership understand that they lead only by the forebearance of the people, and corruption will not be tolerated.

Doing all these things would not only boost their own nation and economy, but would be great for the continent as a whole.

But they’ve got some of the most powerful nations in the world actively working to prevent such an outcome. And I’m a realist enough to suspect that like with the French Revolution, the first attempt will result in the tyranny of the people, not a glorious revolution; because that tends to be what humans do, especially when outside influencers are working hard to make it happen that way.

[–] pinkdrunkenelephants@lemmy.cafe 1 points 1 year ago

No, arguing they need to halt corruption to avoid colonization is inherently blaming them for being colonized.

Countries can be corrupt and not colonized at the same time.

Therefore you're wrong and just victim blaming.

You can try to justify it all you want, it's not going to be okay.

Think before you speak next time.

[–] taanegl@beehaw.org -1 points 1 year ago

What domination? Anyone who isn't a defeatist in Africa knows that corruption from within Africa is the biggest problem. Oh sure, you can blame the IMF, or you could blame the US, Europe, Russia, or even China, or you can look inwards to which politicians fattened their bank accounts from acting in bad faith with any of these nation actors.

Other than that, if WW3 happens... Africans are not going to be on any winning side, I'll tell you that much...