The continuous rise of China as a world power that is threatening to overtake America in the next few decades, and the grand resurgence of Russia under the leadership of Putin have compelled the political scientists of the West in general and the U.S in particular to rethink the much-trumpeted maxim that democracy of the Western brand is the ultimate system of good governance.
The last half-century has brought into focus some strange ground realities that negate the long-held view that the system known as democracy is indispensable for the progress of a Society as a whole, and the betterment of the fortunes of its individuals. First it was South Korea that proved this presumptive idea wrong. Under General Park in the beginning and subsequently his authoritarian successors South Korea rose from poverty to riches that has transformed the quality of life for virtually all its citizens. The other glaring examples are Singapare and Malaysia that under their authoritarian but inspired leaders have become role models for all developing or under-developed nations of the world.
The most thought-provoking examples in this case remain China in special and Russia to a lesser extent.
Democracy, it has been proved in an engine that needs the fuel of MONEY to run. And it goes without saying that MONEY is the exclusive privilege of the moneyed classes.
The concept of democracy being a form of government that is ‘by the people and for the people’ has become a mockery— as it continues to be proved that the people matter only at the time of polling.
The importance of the power of money is being highlighted in the current presidential campaign. Trump’s only virtue is his wealth. His next virtue is his insanity.
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