华盛顿共识如今已不再适用非洲

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.

在美国政府的议程上，非洲的地位正以惊人的速度被伊拉克盖过。巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)刚离开首次由美国总统召集的非洲领导人峰会，在参谋长联席会议(Joint Chiefs of Staff)主席陪同下，一脚踏进他的加长轿车时，这种转变就发生了。上周涌入美国首都的非洲代表们，还没有意识到这次宴请已经结束。这对人们是一个提醒：美国和非洲要保持旺盛的合作精神，需要多么有力的领头人。

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年来，非洲经济快速扩张，这让他们的政府变得更加自信，同时促成了一个消费者阶层的诞生，吸引了众多来自发展中国家的投资者前来寻找商机。针对非洲大陆这种快速变化的形势，美国一直反应迟缓。

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.

在美国对非战略中，美国人建国时所倚赖的那种原始的开拓性资本主义精神显然已消失不见。扮演这一角色的反而变成了中国人。在寻找资源以促进国内经济增长、以及为国内制造商开辟市场的过程中，中国对非洲的潜力抱着长远眼光，将自身利益与非洲对铁路、公路以及“快钱”的需求结合在一起。土耳其、印度、巴西和其他国家也紧随其后。

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，美国显得有些自满。美国的思维仍停留在这样一个时期：对那些债务累累、试图摆脱独裁的经济体，它给出同样的药方（尽管计量有所不同），那就是市场经济和政治自由。这些药方以美国的首都命名，名曰“华盛顿共识”(Washington Consensus)。而中国则愿意在不附加政治条件的情况下提供数十亿美元的投资，这削弱了华盛顿共识的影响力。要重新获得影响力，美国需要更积极地参与非洲事务。

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.

奥巴马召集此次峰会，意味着他终于开始面对现实。此次峰会在很多方面都超出了预期，它向非洲人展示了美国动用资金和专业技能的能力。峰会承诺向非洲投资370亿美元用于发展，这些资金并非所有都来自美国企业，也并非所有都是新投资。但从整体数据来看，其规模与中国相仿。

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.

此次峰会向美国企业展示了非洲新的一面。数千名非洲人飞抵华盛顿参加会议。尽管官方代表没有给此次活动带来多少新东西，但与会者还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.

美国可以借助此次大型峰会形成一种更主动、更全面的战略。过去10年，美国政策越来越军事化，对于安全以及伊斯兰极端主义蔓延的担忧经常优先于对民主的关切。美国在非洲的一些最强大盟友也是最为独裁的。这削弱了美国的人权立场，同时让非洲对美国的双重标准极为敏感。

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.

仅仅说教已经不够了。如果美国希望保持其在政治和安全发展方面的影响力，就需要在非洲的经济发展中发挥更大作用。奥巴马将注意力放在贸易和投资领域以及增加政府的信贷和担保支持，是必要之举。这使得支持美国进出口银行(Eximbank)愈发重要，如果不想让美国企业处于劣势的话。

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.

随着美国企业在推动非洲经济增长和创造就业方面发挥更重要作用，非洲政府将更多关注其他领域。要说服美国企业扩大投资，非洲政府需要加强法制。中国人正在非洲建设物质基础设施。美国可以提供技术、商业知识以及制度建设方面的技能。有了各方的参与，非洲的发展将更为健康稳健。