4 Comments

Structural trends make me worry about the future of democracy. The rise of China is most relevant; the country is now the biggest investor in many countries/regions. Just as the spread of liberal democracy was tied to American economic power, I worry that Chinese power will entail the spread of authoritarianism. If the wind is blowing in this direction, pro-democracy summits can't achieve that much.

Admittedly, the economic development of China may entail domestic demands for democracy; Ron Inglehart's influential theory of postmaterialism predicts this. But I'm not very optimistic. And a declining West, plagued by extremism itself, is scarcely a good advert for liberal democracy.

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What're the chances that Biden, in public remarks, will speak to US polarization and democratic dysfunction frankly, cogently, and judiciously, instead of rehashing tendentious partisan talking-points? About the same as a snowball's in Hell.

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How bout you push Pres Biden to start by freeing journalist Assange. All he did was embarrass the establishment.

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