tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8873224258362907517.post890718347427345467..comments2023-11-30T16:02:02.445-08:00Comments on Silk and Chai: What’s China’s deal in Africa?Matthew Franklin Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233216128641267240noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8873224258362907517.post-54292627915363774122020-08-16T11:17:26.572-07:002020-08-16T11:17:26.572-07:00There's a long history of what I call "tr...There's a long history of what I call "triangulation", where lesser powers try to straddle between two (or more) powers seeking influence. Its how the Iroquois were between France and Britain (and then Britain and the US), or how the Marathan princes were between the East India Company and the Mughals. Of course, it doesn't always work out, but political realism should expect this turn. The bitterness from western media is predominantly in losing the ability to unilaterally dictate terms, the loss of a monopoly.<br /><br />While I lack the hysteria of Chinese world domination, it should be noted that the British achieved a major part of their empire by accident. Colonists were many times there for trade/work, not with the idea of building a new world, only later integrating. Additionally, other pieces were solidified due to larger trade consideration (part of the reason why Britain got involved in Africa had to do with Egypt, which had to do with India). And so, while the idea of the Middle Kingdom ever really stretching beyond its traditional bounds seems unlikely (and implausible), certainly a global China is possible within the next century or two. Especially as workers find themselves living abroad: albeit this is temporarily and with a mind of returning, the British were not so different in certain places. I don't see this as necessarily bad (especially as China's government changes to meet these challenges), but its not the either-or of benevolent regional power or world-conquering evil. Similar analogies were drawn in Europe, combining the self-image of benevolent merchant power (UK, France, NL all contrasted themselves favorably against Iberians) against would-be universal monarch. I think the early modern contested global zones will become a more important paradigm as US hyper-power is resisted.Cal of Chelcicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04274276191242967318noreply@blogger.com