Chinese modernization proves history has not ended: Uganda scholar

From eradicating extreme poverty to prioritizing people-centered development, China’s approach offers a blueprint for the Global South. In this episode, with Uganda Scholar Allawi Ssemanda, we dive into how Chinese modernization is dismantling Francis Fukuyama’s controversial "end of history" theory. 

Transcript

In mutual learning, we learn from each other or we benefit from each other. You can learn from a different civilization, but make sure that it works according to the conditions of that specific country, which I think is very, very important. Today, because of politics or geopolitics, you find that some countries think that their civilization is superior to the other civilizations, which I can tell you that it is very wrong to have that kind of thinking. 

Let's remember that between the 1990s to 2000s. Those years marked very good, you might not call it very good, but at least a calm relationship between China and the West. I’m talking about civilization. Why? Because the Western world was seeing the record of development that was taking place in China. Looking at the kind of development that was coming stability, and they thought that China would maybe at one time become liberal like them.

But China, because their civilization has been guided by their characteristics or the conditions of the Chinese society. Just recently, we see China through their civilization, eliminating poverty and extreme poverty, and that is new history written. So, that represses or demystifies or challenges the claim that the end of history had reached, as (Francis) Fukuyama had told us that there would be no new history.

But we see China creating history by eliminating poverty and extreme poverty at a record time. What does this mean? That we can agree to learn from different civilizations. It is not only our civilization, there is no single civilization that can cling to be superior. But I do believe, for example, we as Africans, we can look at Chinese civilization and see what can work for us from Chinese civilization or Chinese modernization, then we borrow these ideas and put them into the African perspective. If we think that there is something we want from the West,

we can also look at it and borrow from there. And this is mutual learning. I learn from you what can work for me. You also learn from me. It doesn't mean that you must learn from me, but it also shouldn't mean that you cannot learn from me. The very interesting part now, today is, we need to know that media is changing. And there is a saying that he who controls your language, controls your discourse. Today, we have left the story of China and Africa to be told by people who don't love China-Africa cooperation. So we need to have the channels. We need to have Africans. We need to have the Chinese tell their story. But more importantly, I know that Chinese films people love Chinese films. Especially in Africa, I think this is something that can also be improved. But also on Chinese televisions, for example, CGTN, CCTV. We need to see more African faces. And then lastly, China should continue supporting people-to-people exchange. Such that we can have more people coming from Africa, such that we.we can have this connection, culture exchanges, people-to-people exchanges. And I think this is when we can move very well ahead.

So, China's development thinks about the Chinese people. And some other countries, the development thinks about elite, thinks about GDP without thinking about even the environment. But the Chinese system is saying, let development, let our civilization, let our development look at the people. The Chinese people should be well. Not to say that the country is well. So, it is considering people, then it is also looking at the environment. Because this is what brings sustainable development. The Chinese system says it should be whole process, and not only whole process, but also people’s democracy. All different things whole process. It should not be one thing. If it is poverty, it should be fought and all people have some money or have a source of income, they all have jobs, they all have security. So, this is whole process. So, that also makes me to admire the Chinese kind of development. But the biggest point I look at in China’s development is that you really feel like you love it, is the idea that development should be for people. People saying that is present.

I think this to us as Africans, we think it is very very important. And this should be the purpose of development, it should be for people, not just leaders. It should be for the whole citizens of that country. Actually, the other part is that China has been working with African countries in a very respectful way where the leaders are consulting. Also, if you go to people-to-people exchanges, different countries and these are people, these are different cultures coming and exchanging ideas, meeting together. And this is what would build mutual learning or bring different cultures together. China is the second largest destination for African students, university students, meaning that there is good cooperation between the two sides. But I think they do come to China because they feel conditions are good. They feel Chinese students, Chinese professors, they are very cooperative. 

And again, if you look at China-Africa cooperation in terms of development. It is also guided by principles, for example, of mutual respect, win-win cooperation, amity good result, and good faith. And this means that as you are working with African countries or the Global South or any other country, you are not only thinking about China or growing your country alone. You also think about helping other parts of the world, or those countries to also grow and become better. And that is what we call like a shared future. This is where you get to build a community of shared future that you grow, your neighbor grows, and also the other person grows. Whereas the Chinese think like that that we need win-win cooperation or shared future or shared prosperity. Because today, China and the Global South countries, they account for more than half of the world's population. I think if China continues working well with Africa, with the Global South, the world would be great.