The Japanese and Germans already had modern industrialized societies, otherwise they would have not been able to produce the huge war machines that threatened the allies during the war. What they did not have was a history of popular democratic government.
The Germans had a brief encounter with popular democracy during the Weimar period (1920 -1933). The Weimar Republic was destroyed by the economic instability of the early 1930's.
The Japanese, however, had a long history of feudalism. This had to be overcome at the same time that popular democratic institutions were established.
Third world countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe (literaly from A to Z) need:
I think it is ironic that third world countries reject the freedom model as "too Western" or "eurocentric" at the same time that they embrace the Marxist model which was clearly a product of European descent.
Mbeki, Obasanjo to Meet Mugabe on Zimbabwe Crisis--[Excerpt] HARARE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo were due to meet President Robert Mugabe on Monday over Zimbabwe's deep political crisis, but analysts held out little hope of progress.
They said the leaders of Africa's two most powerful countries were likely to push Mugabe, who won a controversial presidential election marred by violence and charges of vote rigging, to consider forming a government of national unity.
The talks come the day before a crucial meeting in London of the so-called Commonwealth troika on Zimbabwe, which is due to discuss suspending the southern African country from the grouping of Britain and former colonies.
Mbeki and Obasanjo are members of the troika along with Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Commonwealth analysts believe Howard is likely to favor some form of suspension which Mbeki would oppose, leaving the deciding vote to Obasanjo.
But senior aides to Obasanjo said in Lagos on Sunday that he looked most unlikely to back the suspension of Zimbabwe. [End Excerpt]