Posted on 02/24/2009 6:12:24 AM PST by Hawthorn
Vladimir Putin’s social contract has been premised on an authoritarian state delivering rising incomes and resurgent power. But the economic crisis is unraveling all that. And what comes next in Russia might be even worse.
(Excerpt) Read more at foreignpolicy.com ...
Unfortunately he overlooked the fact that authoritarian states are never able to deliver “rising incomes”, except for the lead authoritarians.
Much though we might like the idea the prosperity is always the product of liberty, I can think of at least three counterexamples: Singapore, Taiwan, and the PRC (once they decided to just call themselves 'Communists' but become, in fact, fascists).
Add Pinochet’s Chile and the Shah’s Iran to the list.
>> Much though we might like the idea the prosperity is always the product of liberty, I can think of at least three counterexamples: Singapore, Taiwan, and the PRC <<
>> Add Pinochet’s Chile and the Shah’s Iran to the list. <<
Good points! And while we’re at it, let’s add South Africa (before the end of Apartheid) and Korea (before its recent democratization) to the list.
>> Much though we might like the idea the prosperity is always the product of liberty, I can think of at least three counterexamples: Singapore, Taiwan, and the PRC <<
>> Add Pinochet’s Chile and the Shah’s Iran to the list. <<
Good points! And while we’re at it, let’s add South Africa (before the end of Apartheid) and Korea (before its recent democratization) to the list.
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