[Penner]

Which is why they will not remain communist. Nothing undermines authoritarianism more effectively than the first taste of prosperity.

In the real world, authoritarians crush resistance to their rule.

[agere_contra]

In the real world it can go either way. There's no sure thing in history. North Korea or Zimbabwe didn't have to become the starved socialist hellholes they are. In those cases I agree the authoritarians triumphed. In Industrial revolution Britain (1816?) the authoritarians eventually conceded on suffrage, if I remember correctly.

A lot depends on the mindset and world view of the people. China has a looong addiction to despotic rule and the idea that the state owns you. China has a lot of self-identity, almost primordial, mitigating against divison. But ... the middle class has seen a HUGE change in its living conditions. No politburo will able to stop them voting with their feet, if nothing else.

[Squawk 8888]

In the real world, authoritarians crush resistance to their rule.

And we all know how successful the tactic was in Poland, Hungary, Czech, East Germany and South Korea.