the problem with exporting liberal democracy and capitalism

[egb_hibs]

a book world on fire I read a couple of months ago was focussed on what it managed to convince me was a serious flaw in western strategy re export of democracy and capitalism concurrently.

it cited numerous examples of the syndrome the author describes as the 'market dominant minority' and the problems caused where one exists, and where democracy and free market are rapidly introduced.

perhaps the best known example of a market dominant minority, although in this case it's extent was hugely exaggerated by the nazis, is the pre-war jewish population in germany. while there is a small kernel of truth in a higher than average wealth in the jewish population the nazis took that and twisted it grotesquely. however, there are apparently many examples around the world where you have a situation closer to the real thing.

from certain tribes in africa, through the chinese in south east asia, the 'europeans' in south america and numerous other examples, there are many instances where in non free markets a near or total economic monopoly is held by an ethnic minority.

when markets are liberalised, which should help address this situation, it typically goes hand in hand with democracy. the immediate result being that the impoverished minority uses it's new found political power to pump the previously privileged minority.

what varies is the violence of the pumping - the author cites cases from the merely oppressive through to the outrageous (rwanda). incidentally 1875 may be interested in the background she gives to the indonesian riots he experienced first hand, and which she attributes to this phenomena.

It's quite a gloomy book, and the author offers no real suggestion as to a way out.

there's stuff in it aplenty to disturb those who dream of the export of liberal values, but also cold comfort for those who believe the world can be made nicer by getting rid of religion, communism, whatever - the spectrum of 'differences' that people find to divide themselves from one another is remarkable and depressing.

the socialists meanwhile won't be too happy with convincing arguments that many of their favourite causes are actually ethno-nationalist movements in marxist clothing.

multi-culturalists will find it hard to swallow the compelling evidence that certain cultures do better time and again - the inherited advantage argument goes south when communities that have literally been massacred, rise from the ashes to again regain power from those who've slaughtered them. the latter meanwhile, consistently blow it when trying to turn the plunder they've acquired into a sustainable success.

they'll also find it hard to accept that the most peacable solutions to the 'problem' have been brutally imposed assimilation. but paradoxically, the most catastrophic explosions are in the most assimilated societies (30s germany, balkans, rwanda).

all in all pretty grim.

[egb_hibs]

i would just like it noted for the record that i have submitted a post questioning the untrammelled greatness of liberal democracy and capitalism and as previously predicted it seems about to sink without trace.
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[Bartok]

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