Exclusive interview with Professor Stephen Chan of the School of Oriental and African Studies
“Africa needs a generation jump and it needs an educated, honest, new generation,” says Professor Stephen Chan of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Professor Chan was recently awarded an OBE for ‘services to Africa and to higher education’.
Professor Chan who is a lecturer in International Relations, is widely respected as a distinguished academic who has made a major contribution to the academic understanding of international politics in general and African politics in particular. He has also made a significant impact on political developments in Africa through his involvement in high-level diplomacy and actions and advice on the ground. Here’s an exclusive interview he granted The Africa News.
Professor Chan, many, especially in the Western world are concerned about China’s increasing relationships with African countries. Is this concern founded?
From the West’s point of view, yes. From an African point of view, the relationships with China allow them a degree of leverage over the West. It’s not that China will out-bid the West in any assured and predicted fashion. It’s that the West will now, itself, have to try harder to keep up or keep ahead.
How do African countries stand to gain from their relations with China?
Very precisely from the aspect of leverage. Having said that, the Chinese are not benign. They drive a hard bargain. Very few African governments have Chinese expertise, and they must be careful they are not ‘walked over’ in negotiations.
How would you describe the international relations African countries have with the Western countries?
It differs radically from country to country. South Africa has excellent relations and Zimbabwe the opposite. Western countries need more sensitive diplomacy, but African countries also must upgrade their diplomatic capacity.
What do you think Western countries should change in their relations with African countries?
The one-size-fits-all approach to democracy and financial flow conditionality.
And what do you think African countries should change in their relations with Western countries?
There really is a lack of high-level negotiating capacity. I don’t know what many African diplomats do half the time, except that they are often a disgrace to their countries and the continent in terms of their skills and, particularly, their preparation. The best are superb. Those not the best tend to be embarrassing.
With a new government in the UK, do you think there will be a change in UK’s African policy? If yes, how do you expect it to be?
There’ll be no change at all. At some stage over the next year, there could be a gradual lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe, but this will be done very unobtrusively to save face.
How do you foresee the future of Africa?
Some parts have a wonderful future. Almost every part needs a generational change. When the Presidents of the US and even China are far younger than the crusty old leaders of so many African countries, then it’s clear that, apart from anything else, they have a generation jump start in terms of moving swiftly and embracing new ways. But the leaders of the US and China are also highly educated, and they have not spent their political careers stealing money. Africa needs a generation jump and it needs an educated, honest, new generation.
What do you think about UK’s asylum system?
It stinks.
By Stephen Ogongo
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