Thisarticle is a commentary on the legacy of the Bandung Conference, written by Yan Hairong, a scholar at Tsinghua University. The article discusses the significance of theBandung Conference in the context of today’s global political and economic landscape.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
I. The Legacyof Bandung
- Yan Hairong argues that the Bandung Conference left two legacies:
- The first legacy was the rise of the Non-Aligned Movement, which challenged the Cold War bipolarity and promoted the principle of peaceful coexistence.
- The second legacy, which Yan Hairong considers more important, is the rise of social movements resisting neoliberalism. She cites the Farmer’sRoad movement as an example, a transnational alliance of farmers resisting the Washington Consensus.
- She emphasizes the importance of solidarity among developing countries, echoing the spirit of the Bandung Conference, and calls for the China-Africa Cooperation Forum to inheritthis spirit.
II. The Problem of Primitive Accumulation
- Yan Hairong analyzes the concept of primitive accumulation, drawing on the work of Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg, and Samir Amin.
- She argues that primitive accumulation is a key feature of capitalism, involving the exploitation of peripheral regions and the creation of asemi-proletariat.
- She highlights the role of semi-proletariat in resisting primitive accumulation.
III. Critique of David Harvey’s New Imperialism
- Yan Hairong criticizes David Harvey’s concept of spatial-temporal fix for neglecting the centrality of thecenter-periphery relationship in global capitalism.
- She argues that Harvey’s Eurocentrism leads him to overlook the role of socialist countries in shaping the global capitalist structure and the impact of their collapse on the rise of neoliberalism.
IV. Evaluating China’s Role in Africa
- Yan Hairong argues that China’s presence in Africa is both a force for regional stability and a challenge to Western monopoly capital.
- She acknowledges that China’s industrialization has both benefited from and contributed to neoliberalism.
- She points out that China’s going out strategy, driven by surplus capital,has been facilitated by the Washington Consensus, which has opened up opportunities for Chinese investment in Africa.
- However, she also highlights instances where Chinese companies have challenged Western dominance, such as in the copper mining industry in Zambia and the tobacco industry in Zimbabwe.
V. Conclusion
- Yan Hairong concludes thatChina’s role in Africa is complex and multifaceted, with both positive and negative aspects.
- She emphasizes the need for China to actively engage in the struggle against neoliberalism and to promote solidarity among developing countries.
Overall, the article provides a nuanced and critical analysis of the legacy of the Bandung Conference and itsrelevance to contemporary global issues. It highlights the importance of understanding the dynamics of global capitalism and the need for solidarity among developing countries in resisting neo-colonialism and neoliberalism.
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