overseer
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Marathaman, I can tell you when people are poor, democracy is the last thing on their mind. I would also point you to the fact that the most successful countries in Asia are not democratic at all just 30 years ago. Some are still not democratic. For example, South Korea, was ruled by a military dictator until 1980s, Japan was essentially a one party system until 1980s (and still largely so), Singapore is rule with iron fist by the autocracy even today. Taiwan was also ruled with iron fist by military dictators until 1990s. Even Britain, France, the birth place of modern democracy, were largely a dictatorship (monarchy) until very late in their own history.
The transition China is making is following the footsteps that is proven in all the successful Asian economies. A power centralized government can get things done quickly as you have pointed out, it benefits all the people under its rule, and as economy gets better, living standards become better, people will demand something higher than merely the basic necessities. China is not upto that phase yet, there are still hundreds of millions in poverty, China is currently mirroring the development of late 1960s phase of the rapid economic expansion of the Asian Tigers. Back in 1960s, you would be hard press to find a true democracy in Asia. Probably only Philippine - a true democracy (mirroring the US system) back in 1960s with the strongest economy in all of Asia (even better than Japan). But Philippine now is largely consider a failed state by most asian and a cautionary tale.
So, give China another 10-20 years, it will achieve what South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore has achieved 20 years ago; like I say, once certain level of material necessities in life are abundent, people demand something more than material wellbeing, they will want to have more freedom. That is why China will become democratic in 20 years time.
The transition China is making is following the footsteps that is proven in all the successful Asian economies. A power centralized government can get things done quickly as you have pointed out, it benefits all the people under its rule, and as economy gets better, living standards become better, people will demand something higher than merely the basic necessities. China is not upto that phase yet, there are still hundreds of millions in poverty, China is currently mirroring the development of late 1960s phase of the rapid economic expansion of the Asian Tigers. Back in 1960s, you would be hard press to find a true democracy in Asia. Probably only Philippine - a true democracy (mirroring the US system) back in 1960s with the strongest economy in all of Asia (even better than Japan). But Philippine now is largely consider a failed state by most asian and a cautionary tale.
So, give China another 10-20 years, it will achieve what South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore has achieved 20 years ago; like I say, once certain level of material necessities in life are abundent, people demand something more than material wellbeing, they will want to have more freedom. That is why China will become democratic in 20 years time.