National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other factors?

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other factors?

Let’s start with basic (and rather simplistic) definition of the three terms involved.

  1. Prosperity - Economic viability of a nation, and the buying power of its citizens
  2. Dictatorship - One party (man) rule by an ideology, or a monarch or an army general.
  3. Democracy - People chose / change their leadership at regular intervals

This post is trying to generate comments on the following.

Many Western intellectuals believe that

democracy ----> (leads to) Prosperity

while

Dictatorship ------> lack of prosperity

Is that true?

Because Chinese example shows that

dictatorship -----> prosperity (100s of times more than comparably sized India).

**Are there factors ****other than **democracy that result in prosperity?

There must be other factors.

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

First of all, I think its not correct to evaluate a type of government solely based on "properity" potentials. We should also look at other components of society which are judiciary, freedom, journalism etc.

[quote]
democracy ----> (leads to) Prosperity
:
Dictatorship ------> lack of prosperity
:
Is that true?

Because Chinese example shows that

dictatorship -----> prosperity (100s of times more than comparably sized India).

Are there factors **other than ***democracy that result in prosperity?*
[/quote]

The other factors which result in "controlling" prosperity are "sponsors" of the party/individuals, lobbyists etc.

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

A Person's character is what he/she is, and none is dictator or democrat from their mother womb. You can find extreme dictator in character coming through democratic route and you can find extreme democrat in character coming to power using force (military) and people may call him dictator.

Prosperity, development, and economical growth is nothing to do with dictatorship or democracy. It is to do with sincerity, commitment, efficiency, determination, and honesty of the person in power at top, be that person dictator or democrat.

But then, there is a big problem in third world countries. Prosperity, development and growth in third world countries is hated by most who are rich, powerful, affluent, and influential, as when country prosper their power base, dependency of others on them, their importance in society, control and authority over others, and financial superiority reduces.

Since in third world countries, people contest elections with their own money, so only rich, powerful, affluent, and influential contest elections and win (or can afford to lose), so when these people win, instead of bringing prosperity, development, and growth, these people bring misery, loot and plunder, mismanagement and bankruptcy.

Nevertheless, bad dictator is worse then worst democrat, because democrat depends on many others and do not have absolute power, and if they go beyond a certain limit of corruption and destruction, depending on tolerance in armed forces, army moves in to stop them, so their harm is limited. As for bad dictator, it is very difficult to stop him as army is under his control, and thus only revolt in armed forces can stop bad dictator, and thus bad dictator can harm much more than bad democrat. On the other hand a good dictator is better than best democrat as when it comes to serving the country and doing good for the people, dictator can do that with mostly free hand but democrat cannot.

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

So true, which is why political reimbursement (looting the national treasury and other resources) is the number one agenda after getting into power. Third world countries probably see spikes in their development graphs near election times.

maram& abroo VS mariam khuwajah
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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

I agree but then if you evaluate, "dictatorship" is not the way to go as you are depending on one person to make a difference, if he turns out to be Saddam then society is doomed. With "democratic" setup, there is always an option of not re-electing that bad ruler.

[quote]
Since in third world countries, people contest elections with their own money, so only rich, powerful, affluent, and influential contest elections and win (or can afford to lose), so when these people win, instead of bringing prosperity, development, and growth, these people bring misery, loot and plunder, mismanagement and bankruptcy.
[/quote]

For this I give credit to MQM for bringing up leadership from middle-classes, though they got corrupt with power as their rise was more based on weapons than true leadership. There are rare examples in other parties of "middle-class" making it to top level (NA/PA) but then these are "rare" examples.

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

I was born in India a long time ago and have been visiting China since the late 1980s. To claim that China is a great economy (or, for that matter that India is) would be ridiculous. Today, something like 56% of India's population is below 26 years of age. Where the country is going to find jobs for half a billion people, I doubt anyone in India knows. And as far as China is concerned, there is more than a massive quantity of dross beneath the glitter. When someone like Li Ka Shing pulls all of his money out of the Chinese stock market, something must be rank there. And, when Warren Buffet follows suit, the world had better sit up and watch what is going on in the Middle Kingdom more closely.

Like it or not, Western democracies, their warts and all (especially the current bane of sub prime lending fiascos) will do better in the future than China, India or other supposed competitors. The advantage that the West has is its inherent freedom which gives its economies the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions much faster than whatever alternatives the rest of the world cooks up from time to time. Thorty years ago there was talk about the USSR dominating the world after the US was defeated in Vietnam. I doubt that I need to explain what happened to the Soviet Union. And then, the consensus among the anti democratic thinkers was that Japan would do what the USSR had failed to. Again, I do not need to explain what happened. Now the latest heroes that the world's communists, socialists and anti Americans are holding up are China and India. Well, those who do not remember history's lessons and all that...

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

The reason chinese have been successful is because they're sincere and more hard-working than any other nation. They like to build things for themselves, whereas India (implying to your example) imports their goods, just like most other nations.

The MOST basic and Fundamental factor that leads to the prosperity of any nation is:
The system that allows for its people to explore, contribute, and expand
Problem with Pakistan has been that the people who had talents/education were not appreciated because their intellect amounted to nothing, while the wealthier were treated like there are none better than them. This unfair treatment on a micro and macro level has always led to educated or dedicated people eventually leaving the country to serve other nations, where they are appreciated and given the opportunity to further explore their skills, education and awarded equally.
A just system is necessary so people in turn will work hard to sustain the system, and overtime it turns into a bigger success. Every drop counts. The current situation is that of, the public working to stock the honey comb and the politicians eating away by the handful leaving nothing behind for the people who work so hard for it.
I hope that made sense.

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

How many people in the world want to be chinese citizens, how may want to be US or EU?

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

^^^ thats for demand and supply nothing to with this. also there is no shortage of humans in china but there is shortage of skills in EU and US.

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

Bhai Jaan

I am asking how many people want ot be chinese citizens? Not how many china needs or the western countries need.

Peopel across the globe from Africa, Pakistan, Mexico are risking their lives to go to US/EU for better lives. No one is running to china. That shows who is "prosperous".

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

Probably a day will come in the future for this. People are already moving to NICs - Japan, South Korea, Malaysia etc.

The main problem with us is the lack of honesty, I think.

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

True

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Re: National prosperity: Is it linked to democracy or dictatorship or some other fact

[quote]
The advantage that the West has is its inherent freedom which gives its economies the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions much faster than whatever alternatives the rest of the world cooks up from time to time.
[/quote]

Why do you think India does not have the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions. It is very important that you look at things in the proper perspective. If a country has half its citizens below 26 years of age, then I think it is a huge advantage. It is upto the entreprenuers to take advantage of this situation. I dont think I have to name them who are already doing that...