華盛頓共識如今已不再適用非洲

The speed with which Africa was eclipsed by Iraq on Washington’s agenda was startling. It happened the moment Barack Obama left the first summit of African leaders convened by a US president and stepped into his limo alongside the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. African delegates who flocked to the US capital last week appeared as if they had stayed beyond last orders. It was a reminder of the need for strong champions if the spirit of engagement between Washington and African capitals is to be kept alive.

在美國政府的議程上，非洲的地位正以驚人的速度被伊拉克蓋過。巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)剛離開首次由美國總統召集的非洲領導人峯會，在參謀長聯席會議(Joint Chiefs of Staff)主席陪同下，一腳踏進他的加長轎車時，這種轉變就發生了。上週涌入美國首都的非洲代表們，還沒有意識到這次宴請已經結束。這對人們是一個提醒：美國和非洲要保持旺盛的合作精神，需要多麼有力的領頭人。

The US has been slow to respond to rapidly changing dynamics on the continent where a decade and a half of rapid economic expansion has seen the emergence of more assertive governments, a consumer class and a host of fresh suitors from the developing world in search of commercial opportunity.

15年來，非洲經濟快速擴張，這讓他們的政府變得更加自信，同時促成了一個消費者階層的誕生，吸引了衆多來自發展中國家的投資者前來尋找商機。針對非洲大陸這種快速變化的形勢，美國一直反應遲緩。

The raw pioneering capitalism with which Americans built their nation has been notably absent from the US approach. Instead it is the Chinese who have taken on that role. In pursuit of resources to fuel domestic growth and markets for manufacturers, Beijing has adopted a long-term view of the continent’s potential, marrying its interests to Africa’s need for railways, roads and fast money. The Turks, Indians, Brazilians and others have followed.

在美國對非戰略中，美國人建國時所倚賴的那種原始的開拓性資本主義精神顯然已消失不見。扮演這一角色的反而變成了中國人。在尋找資源以促進國內經濟增長、以及爲國內製造商開闢市場的過程中，中國對非洲的潛力抱着長遠眼光，將自身利益與非洲對鐵路、公路以及“快錢”的需求結合在一起。土耳其、印度、巴西和其他國家也緊隨其後。

By contrast, Washington has appeared complacent, stuck in an era when the consensus remedy to debt-ridden economies emerging from dictatorship was named after America’s capital, and the medicine of free market economics and political freedom was universally if unevenly prescribed. China’s willingness to provide billions of dollars of investment free of politicised conditions has weakened the intellectual hold of the so-called Washington Consensus. If the US is to regain influence it needs to become more actively involved.

相比之下，美國顯得有些自滿。美國的思維仍停留在這樣一個時期：對那些債務累累、試圖擺脫獨裁的經濟體，它給出同樣的藥方（儘管計量有所不同），那就是市場經濟和政治自由。這些藥方以美國的首都命名，名曰“華盛頓共識”(Washington Consensus)。而中國則願意在不附加政治條件的情況下提供數十億美元的投資，這削弱了華盛頓共識的影響力。要重新獲得影響力，美國需要更積極地參與非洲事務。

It was in belated recognition of this that Mr Obama called the summit. In many ways it surpassed expectations, showcasing to Africans the capacity America has to mobilise capital and expertise. The $37bn pledged towards investment and development comes from a blend of sources, not all American and not all new. But as a headline figure it matched what Beijing has offered.

奧巴馬召集此次峯會，意味着他終於開始面對現實。此次峯會在很多方面都超出了預期，它向非洲人展示了美國動用資金和專業技能的能力。峯會承諾向非洲投資370億美元用於發展，這些資金並非所有都來自美國企業，也並非所有都是新投資。但從整體數據來看，其規模與中國相仿。

The summit revealed to US businesses a fresh side of Africa. Thousands of Africans flew in for the occasion. While official delegations brought little new to the occasion, there was also a range of dynamic non-state participants eager to strengthen US-Africa ties.

此次峯會向美國企業展示了非洲新的一面。數千名非洲人飛抵華盛頓參加會議。儘管官方代表沒有給此次活動帶來多少新東西，但與會者還包括很多渴望加深美非合作、富有活力的非政府人士。

Out of this jamboree, a more pro-active and holistic US approach could be born. In the past decade, US policy has become increasingly militarised, with concerns over security, and the spread of Islamic extremism, often taking precedence over democracy. Some of Washington’s strongest allies in Africa are its most autocratic. This has weakened Washington’s message on human rights and made Africans acutely sensitive to US double standards.

美國可以藉助此次大型峯會形成一種更主動、更全面的戰略。過去10年，美國政策越來越軍事化，對於安全以及伊斯蘭極端主義蔓延的擔憂經常優先於對民主的關切。美國在非洲的一些最強大盟友也是最爲獨裁的。這削弱了美國的人權立場，同時讓非洲對美國的雙重標準極爲敏感。

It is no longer enough to preach. If Washington wishes to maintain its influence over political and security developments, it needs to play a stronger role in Africa’s economic evolution. The focus Mr Obama has brought to trade and investment, and greater state backing with credits and guarantees, is a necessary step. That makes it all the more important to sustain Eximbank, if US companies are not to be put at a disadvantage.

僅僅說教已經不夠了。如果美國希望保持其在政治和安全發展方面的影響力，就需要在非洲的經濟發展中發揮更大作用。奧巴馬將注意力放在貿易和投資領域以及增加政府的信貸和擔保支持，是必要之舉。這使得支持美國進出口銀行(Eximbank)愈發重要，如果不想讓美國企業處於劣勢的話。

With US businesses playing a bigger part in driving growth and creating jobs, African governments will pay more attention on other fronts. To persuade US businesses to invest more, African governments need to strengthen the rule of law. The Chinese are building physical infrastructure. The US can bring technology, business knowledge and institution-building expertise. Prospects for African prosperity will be healthier with all aboard.

隨着美國企業在推動非洲經濟增長和創造就業方面發揮更重要作用，非洲政府將更多關注其他領域。要說服美國企業擴大投資，非洲政府需要加強法制。中國人正在非洲建設物質基礎設施。美國可以提供技術、商業知識以及制度建設方面的技能。有了各方的參與，非洲的發展將更爲健康穩健。