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In response to
"Right now..."
by
Mel Profit
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I agree with your first two points - I just think it's a bigger question.
Posted by
Roger More (aka RogerMore)
Mar 29 '12, 08:03
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On the third, what I mean is that over the last twenty years there has been a trend towards more freedom and democracy. For example, the Suharto dictatorship in Indonesia crumbled, and was replaced with a democracy which has seen a couple of successful and bloodless transfers of power - which is remarkable given the diversity of the population, the wealth centred in Java, the level of army control etc. There is more freedom now in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand than in the early 90s.
But as you say, the recent years, with the rise of China and the economic crisis in the US, democracy is seen as in decline. So the path these countries are on is uncertain.
If America's economy (and others such as Europe and Japan) remain stagnant over the next decade, then it's likely that China - which will have growth, money, proximity and military power - will be more influential in the region. If the Western economies bounce back, then those countries will have better alternatives to choose from.
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