When Two Chinese Channels Redefined Democracy for Me

The Surprise Lesson I Got From Chinese TV

Summary:

A failed DSTV subscription forced me into Chinese state television

 — and revealed a leadership selection model that challenged everything 

I thought I knew about Western democracy.

You can even watch it live here: Watch CCTV Live

How a Failed DSTV Subscription Changed My Politics

About twenty-five years ago, something quite amusing happened.

My DSTV subscription ended abruptly — no warning, no grace period — and suddenly I was left with only two channels: CCTV-1 and CCTV-2.

At first, I thought it was punishment.

But as the days passed and I kept watching simply because I had no other choice, something unexpected unfolded.

I discovered — to my genuine surprise — that China had a system for selecting its leaders that was far more complex, far more structured, and in many ways far more rigorous than the “Western democracy” we like to romanticize.

In fact, it rivalled it.

Perhaps even surpassed it in certain respects.

It was almost embarrassing to realize this by accident — a whole political philosophy, a whole national operating system, sitting there in plain sight on a channel I would never have clicked on if my subscription hadn’t expired.

And there I was, alone in my sitting room, learning that the world was not as binary as we had been taught… that leadership could be chosen through methods that didn’t fit neatly into our slogans and imported ideas.

Sometimes life educates you by force.

Mine just happened to use a failed DSTV subscription.

Why China’s Model Suddenly Made Sense for Africa

As I write these lines today, I find myself thinking:

“Perhaps the China model is what will save Africa.”

Why would such a thought arise?

Because among many educated Africans, entering politics is anathema.

They consider politics “beneath them.”

And that is the problem.

This collective withdrawal has led — across the length and breadth of Africa — to the rise of kakistocracies.

What Is Kakistocracy?

Kakistocracy (noun):

A system of government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens.

From the Greek kakistos (“worst”) + kratos (“rule”).

In plain English:

Rule by the worst of us.

When the best avoid politics, the worst fill the vacuum.

And Africa has paid dearly for this vacuum — in governance, leadership, development, and dignity.

China, on the other hand, did the opposite:

They built a system that actively cultivates, ranks, tests, grooms, and elevates talent into leadership — whether or not the talent wants to “run for office.”

Merit is not left to accident.

Leadership is not outsourced to popularity.

Competence is not optional.

Maybe that is what Africa needs.

Maybe that is the antidote to kakistocracy.

Here’s a description of the Chinese system: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D1dFww6Z6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Don Kenobi

Founder, BigAgendaAfrica

#CultureNotStructure | #ReCultureNotReStructure #BigAgendaAfrica