It’s too late to stop China’s rise, so the West must start to question its own assumptions
Keith Burnett says the new world order emerging from China’s rise is proof of the folly of Western expectations. Understanding China on its own terms is critical
One recent article in The Economist mourned that the West had lost the bet on China. Which bet? That once China became more prosperous, its people would inevitably crave democracy. That progress meant the Chinese would adopt our system and, enlightened, they would wish to become like us, of course.
Only, the writer admitted that this assumption was flawed. The West had hoped China could become a commercial partner along Western lines, and that it would give up all that “communism with Chinese characteristics”. After we had seen the fall of the Berlin Wall, China has caught us out. It seems the West had assumed that when walls fall, the natural consequence would be free-market capitalism.
How should we understand this new world order emerging in China? Are our old perspectives fit for what is happening now?
The Trump-like protectionists say the solution is simple. We should toughen up and stop the Chinese from having an easy ride with buying our companies and infrastructure. We must hold tight to our intellectual property and our company processes.
China will not be playing second fiddle to the West on innovations such as electric cars, nuclear energy or Industry 4.0. This is a fundamental economic change; the plates are shifting and the US cannot assume its natural supremacy forever.
It seems the West had assumed that when walls fall, the natural consequence would be free-market capitalism
Now, consider China’s model of development, which is being watched closely in Africa, the Middle East and the Baltic states. The poor of Africa have had plenty of experience of foreign aid from the West. Now, as they ride on transport infrastructure and work in factories funded by Chinese investment, they are wondering if this may be a model for their own development.
China doesn’t assume that change will come for its people without enormous effort and purpose. Certainly, the challenges ahead are enormous. They are not in some cosy place where they can rest and give over control of the juggernaut they have built.
In China, we are seeing a new empire rising. What we do not yet understand is to what degree the reach of this empire will be a force for prosperity and peace. The ambition is there, but will they succeed? We can only hope that the undoubted influence China will have will be for the good of people far beyond its own lands.
If we are honest, we start to question our own assumptions. Many modern-day economic sages point to the failure of the West to address the growing problems of inequality and the rot of our societies as more get left out. Economic exclusion, from the banlieues of Paris to the high-rises of Hong Kong, beget a generation of youth that sees the West as unjust and uncaring.
As we increasingly hear the thunder of conflicts around the world which risk drawing in many nations, we must ensure we understand the fears and hopes of this rising empire.
Professor Sir Keith Burnett is vice-chancellor and president of the University of Sheffield and chair of Sheffield’s award-winning Confucius Institute
