SA media and Afrikan Pessimism and Afrika within the Global Economic Village

The suspension of the NPA boss, adv. Vusi Pikoli by President Thabo Mbeki has spiked a scorching debate within the South African social, political and media circles. This act by the supposedly enigmatic Mbeki is mostly associated with the so called succession battle.

Making reference to this issue, it seems to me that whoever is linking the two (succession and the suspension of Pikoli) is suggesting that even if TM realizes forces that would (or have a potential to) encumber the smooth functioning of any sphere of government, he must not act to avert this because the media (and the public at large) might interpret his actions as an attempt to manipulate the outcome of the ANC conference to be held in December 2007

Modern Social Sciences (including Economics), tell us that Politicians are not different from the rest of us, i.e. their motivation might be to maximize their utility/ votes – as opposed to having the public interest at heart. (I can dwell on this, but it might be unnecessary) So, perhaps this is precisely what's happening here. However, a balanced analysis is needed. The truth is that the media has its own agenda. The Madlala-Routledge saga serves as evidence here.

I’d like to link the issue above with the Afrikan Pessimism and Afrika within the Global Economic Village – why is the South African and the Western media adamant in their analysis of Afrika and its leaders.

In her book, World on Fire, a well known academic at the Yale University, Amy Chua writes; "When free market democracy is pursued in the presence of a market-dominant minority, the almost invariable result is backlash. This backlash typically takes one of three forms. The first is a backlash against markets, targeting the market-dominant minority's wealth. The second is a backlash against democracy by forces favorable to the market-dominant minority. The third is violence, sometimes genocidal, directed against the market-dominant minority itself." Also, "overnight democracy will empower the poor, indigenous majority. What happens is that under those circumstances, democracy doesn't do what we expect it to do -- that is, reinforce markets. [Instead,] democracy leads to the emergence of manipulative politicians and demagogues who find that the best way to get votes is by scapegoating the minorities."

Now, Chua does make mention of some Afrikan countries (albeit not South Africa), in such analysis. I agree with her, to a certain extent - globalization has had adverse (and perhaps unintended) consequences for Afrika. However, the more non-superficial cause of such consequences than those mentioned by Chua need to me mentioned here:

- Afrika's exports are largely primary ones (commodities). The demand (from the west) of such commodities have declined (due to decreased population growth) over the past 15 years, hence the decreased exports – leading to decreasing economic growth in the exporting countries. The new demand has been recently coming from the East (China and India) – hence the recent economic growth in the commodity exporting countries.

- I have mentioned this because she emphasizes that the free market democracy in the developing world emanate from the west in an attempt to manipulate such economies.

I like her analysis when she says: "overnight democracy will empower the poor, indigenous majority. What happens is that under those circumstances, democracy doesn't do what we expect it to do -- that is, reinforce markets. [Instead,] democracy leads to the emergence of manipulative politicians and demagogues who find that the best way to get votes is by scapegoating the minorities."

We cannot downplay the possibility of Thabo Mbeki and his government to be such manipulative politicians and demagogues who find that the best way to get votes is by scapegoating the minorities, however, when we scrutinize our governments with such attitude, we run the risk of seeing ourselves through the eyes and analysis of the Western philosophers and generalizations about Afrika while we're made to believe that our analysis of the state we're in is NOT Afrikan pessimism but rather Afrikan reality!

Afrikan Capitalism!

On his Bantu Biko Memorial lecture, SA President, Thabo Mbeki briefly touched on "crass materialism at all cost" (the new found Capitalism) in our country, which is affecting the ethical essence of our people, including our leaders.

However, instead of blaming the capitalist system (on the basis of self enrichment)... we perhaps need to redefine Capitalism - as Afrikans. I do not see anything wrong with the system itself, but with the way we embrace it.

The point I am trying to make here is: Wealth creation (basis of Capitalism), is not necessarily wrong, in fact, it is necessary for any development - both by Government and Private sector - to take place. However, the challenge for us Afrikans (including our leaders), is NOT TO EMULATE Western Capitalism, which is entrenched in, inter alia, "individualism", "selfishness" and "crass materialism."

For us Afrikans, our economic development (underpinned by Capitalism), cannot be similar to that of the West. Our basic human character is deep-rooted into the principle of UBUNTU... and in my view; we ought to define our own Capitalism based on this principle.

Thus, we cannot begin to claim economic emancipation when we have brothers and sisters who cannot fulfill their basic human needs while we're in the ivory towers of, inter alia, SUV's, Plasma TV's, Johnnie Walker Blue's of this world.

Although, there's naturally nothing wrong with such towers, I am of the view that, our economic development and self-upliftment ought to be something else.

And it is that something else that will ensure that our leaders have high moral standings because it will be going back into our roots... Development in the spirit of UBUNTU!