I knew asking my social networks for article topics would get interesting. I had to create a new category and everything. Barry asks :
To which my immediate reaction is – “I’m a web developer, what the hell would I know about international economics?” Not a lot, I can tell you. But Barry’s a retired journalist so he’ll understand when I keep typing and turn my armchair opinion in topical, hard-hitting editorial.
The question’s inference is that an economically successful nation may fiscally retard other nations via it’s global dominance. I’m not sure that’s necessarily true since the global economy typically ebbs and flows together. It’s the G in the GFC. China’s growth has been a boon to many economies other than it’s own. One nation’s success with money doesn’t necessarily spell disaster for it’s neighbours, unless you bring culture and religion into it.
The question was about economics though, not culture or religion and I don’t fear China’s Atheism and India’s Secularism (yes, look it up) as much as I do Africa’s militant Christians or Saudi’s Fundamental Islamists. So here we step, down the slippery slope of xenophobia and cultural relativism. Perhaps that’s what the question was really asking – should we fear successful China?
Before we pass judgement on China and it’s poor human rights record it’s important to remember ours is just as bad. Before we pass judgement on their state controlled media we shan’t forget that we don’t have a right to free speech in Australia and censorship happens. I’ve seen our government take satirical criticism offline. Internet filter anyone? I’d like to see how Australia’s economy would cope with a population of 1.3B and an Average wage of about 14k per year. Would the green voting middle class put their enviro credibility to the test and submit to a one-child policy here? Unlikely. We still pay people to breed here.
It’s easy to be worried about the rising “red dragon”, a suitable image for our own culturally relative opinions of the east, but I grew up in the capitalist, cold-war 80’s being told communism only worked in theory. I don’t hear anyone say it nearly as often today.
