Russia's Africa policy represents a return to Soviet policies. The USSR owed its very existence to its Nationalities policy which stressed the equality of nations and of all nationalities. It was that which ensured that the international capitalist class was constantly defeated in its efforts to break up the former Russian empire- the Chechens, Tatars, Uzbeks, Mongols etc knew that their fate under the rule of imperialists, or the creatures of imperialists, such as the White Generals or wahabi preachers, would be far worse than the promise of equality and socio-economic advance offered by the Communists.
The imperialists just couldn't understand why so many muslims, for example, preferred being ruled by the USSR to the Raj or its variants. Many in the State Department and CIA still can't understand.
In specific African terms the Soviet Union was always very clear about whose side it was on: the imperialists butchered Patrice Lumumba, Moscow named a University for him.
Streets throughout Kiev may be named after Nazis but in Donetsk they are likely to be named after that 'notorious communist' Mandela.
In the African diaspora emblematic leaders such as Paul Robeson and WEB Dubois identified with what was then the Russian state.
Incidentally the author of much of the Soviet Nationalities policy was the Georgian who went by the name of Stalin- it was an aspect of the Socialism in One Country policy that is otten ignored: inspired by Marxist principles and re-inforced by strategic necessity. Not unlike the current Russian policies of multi-polarity and mutual security.
Yes, there's much of the old that remains with the new. I'm optimistic on Africa; but as with Russia, Africans need to embrace the concept of Pan-Africanism--whether you're Egyptian or Zulu you're an African first. If that can be accomplished, much meddling can be negated.
I thought the comment on generating electricty from oil, gas and coal was interesting. It is indeed a scandal that half the people in Africa don't have access to electricty which is the foundation of modern civilised life. However western aid and investment concentrates on wind farms and solar - expensive and unreliable sources of electricty in order to save the planet. Also non-intensive but inefficient farming methods, again for reasons of sustainability. Clearly this model cannot lift the projected 3B people into a modern standard of living. Russia will explode western heads with this juxtaposition as African countries will be able to compare the pie in the sky western "help" with a reality based one from Russia (and by extension BRICS), none of whom it seems to me subscribe to the green religious dogma that is now crippling the west. It also sends a very strong message to Europe in particular that we won't be sending our oil and gas to you anytime soon and are developing new markets by creating demand for our products. A win win for Africa and Russia, and indeed any oil producing nation.
What BRICS, SCO, and kin promote is sustainable development that's mindful of both human and ecological needs as both China and Russia learned the hard way having massively polluted their lands and then having to clean them up while dealing with the fallout of pollution related maladies like cancer. For example, Russian industrial policy mandates that everything produced be recyclable. And of course, Rosatom has mastered the nuclear fuel cycle so all wastes can now be burned. Both China and Russia now produce portable nuclear generators. IMO, what will be key is the implementation of smart city planning to transform Africa's massive slums into modern gems while also building economies lifting those slum dwellers out of poverty.
So African development is not my specialist topic. What I have picked up across the years is that western notions of "sustainability" and "green ethics [hysteria]" means in effect at keeping Africa in its current stage of development. This comes of choosing the Green Religion over human beings and their well being . IMHO. So a careful and modern and ecologically friendly industrialisation and modernistaion using all the things the west uses - coal, gas, oil, nuclear - would I think be preferable to most African nations - rather than the western bitter pill of more or less forced status quo, living in a pre-industrial and pre-modern world. With all that implies in terms of power structures and control.
In the end though nuclear power is the future. Sooner or later oil, coal and gas will run out - though some dispute this. Nevertheless, as a transition measure to a future well beyond my likely lifespan, nuclear etc sure beats wood, dung and peat.
In some areas, Africa and other regions will be able to avoid some of the more environmentally hazardous paths to modernization, but some things are unavoidable. The key of course is energy production as all flows from that. But also construction of logistics/trade corridors to promote intra-African commerce is vital just as it is in Eurasia. Watching and reporting on what develops will be fascinating.
There could have been some gender equality with a Zakharova shirt or skirt to wear. Loved the summit an appreciated your report. Stay well brother Karl, regards uncle
With the clock ticking in Ukraine, there're too many other events going on to ignore. How do they connect? I'm sure there's an answer to that question.. Be well uncle.
i love the shirt! and i love marias commentary too... thanks for sharing karl!
Russia's Africa policy represents a return to Soviet policies. The USSR owed its very existence to its Nationalities policy which stressed the equality of nations and of all nationalities. It was that which ensured that the international capitalist class was constantly defeated in its efforts to break up the former Russian empire- the Chechens, Tatars, Uzbeks, Mongols etc knew that their fate under the rule of imperialists, or the creatures of imperialists, such as the White Generals or wahabi preachers, would be far worse than the promise of equality and socio-economic advance offered by the Communists.
The imperialists just couldn't understand why so many muslims, for example, preferred being ruled by the USSR to the Raj or its variants. Many in the State Department and CIA still can't understand.
In specific African terms the Soviet Union was always very clear about whose side it was on: the imperialists butchered Patrice Lumumba, Moscow named a University for him.
Streets throughout Kiev may be named after Nazis but in Donetsk they are likely to be named after that 'notorious communist' Mandela.
In the African diaspora emblematic leaders such as Paul Robeson and WEB Dubois identified with what was then the Russian state.
Incidentally the author of much of the Soviet Nationalities policy was the Georgian who went by the name of Stalin- it was an aspect of the Socialism in One Country policy that is otten ignored: inspired by Marxist principles and re-inforced by strategic necessity. Not unlike the current Russian policies of multi-polarity and mutual security.
Yes, there's much of the old that remains with the new. I'm optimistic on Africa; but as with Russia, Africans need to embrace the concept of Pan-Africanism--whether you're Egyptian or Zulu you're an African first. If that can be accomplished, much meddling can be negated.
That was wonderful to read. Thank you Karl !
I thought the comment on generating electricty from oil, gas and coal was interesting. It is indeed a scandal that half the people in Africa don't have access to electricty which is the foundation of modern civilised life. However western aid and investment concentrates on wind farms and solar - expensive and unreliable sources of electricty in order to save the planet. Also non-intensive but inefficient farming methods, again for reasons of sustainability. Clearly this model cannot lift the projected 3B people into a modern standard of living. Russia will explode western heads with this juxtaposition as African countries will be able to compare the pie in the sky western "help" with a reality based one from Russia (and by extension BRICS), none of whom it seems to me subscribe to the green religious dogma that is now crippling the west. It also sends a very strong message to Europe in particular that we won't be sending our oil and gas to you anytime soon and are developing new markets by creating demand for our products. A win win for Africa and Russia, and indeed any oil producing nation.
What BRICS, SCO, and kin promote is sustainable development that's mindful of both human and ecological needs as both China and Russia learned the hard way having massively polluted their lands and then having to clean them up while dealing with the fallout of pollution related maladies like cancer. For example, Russian industrial policy mandates that everything produced be recyclable. And of course, Rosatom has mastered the nuclear fuel cycle so all wastes can now be burned. Both China and Russia now produce portable nuclear generators. IMO, what will be key is the implementation of smart city planning to transform Africa's massive slums into modern gems while also building economies lifting those slum dwellers out of poverty.
So African development is not my specialist topic. What I have picked up across the years is that western notions of "sustainability" and "green ethics [hysteria]" means in effect at keeping Africa in its current stage of development. This comes of choosing the Green Religion over human beings and their well being . IMHO. So a careful and modern and ecologically friendly industrialisation and modernistaion using all the things the west uses - coal, gas, oil, nuclear - would I think be preferable to most African nations - rather than the western bitter pill of more or less forced status quo, living in a pre-industrial and pre-modern world. With all that implies in terms of power structures and control.
In the end though nuclear power is the future. Sooner or later oil, coal and gas will run out - though some dispute this. Nevertheless, as a transition measure to a future well beyond my likely lifespan, nuclear etc sure beats wood, dung and peat.
In some areas, Africa and other regions will be able to avoid some of the more environmentally hazardous paths to modernization, but some things are unavoidable. The key of course is energy production as all flows from that. But also construction of logistics/trade corridors to promote intra-African commerce is vital just as it is in Eurasia. Watching and reporting on what develops will be fascinating.
There could have been some gender equality with a Zakharova shirt or skirt to wear. Loved the summit an appreciated your report. Stay well brother Karl, regards uncle
With the clock ticking in Ukraine, there're too many other events going on to ignore. How do they connect? I'm sure there's an answer to that question.. Be well uncle.