In many nations of the non-West there has been/is a dangerously Western liberally enamoured part of the elite, and even of the general population, that would be more than happy to act as the compradors or Quislings of the Western elites. Living a very comfortable life while selling out their nations and general populations. Many are connected to the NGO-complex that acts as a Western-paid opposition, and may be more a member of a nation’s diaspora than have grown up within their home country’s political, economic and social milieu, or are simply the rich that would love to monetize their assets in US dollars and hob nob with the global Western elite across the world. In the parts of Eurasia outside the US-captured Europe, these West-loving liberals are slowly being squeezed out.
Excellent summary. I live in SE Asia and your descriptions fit what I see.
Two niggles:
1. The Party anticipated "increasing, and pervasive, corruption within the Party" in 1980, and planned for it accordingly. So Chinese corruption never reached the policy-making level and never hampered policy execution. Bribers bribed officials to let them, rather than their cross-town rival, build the new bridge or subway. By 2012, officials' salaries had fallen so far behind the fast-rising median that Xi was forced to give all 7 million of them a 60% pay raise. Only then did he lower the corruption boom and double their workload.
2. "At the end of the decade the two possible new leaders of the CPC to replace Hu Jintao were Bo Xilai and Xi Jinping”. Only if we believe Time Magazine, which gave Bo a cover. Otherwise, the guy was known as a ruthless self-promoter who, in the words of his famous father, "Trades on my name without any experience of ordinary life or compassion towards ordinary people”. He was not on the 5-man shortlist, but there was plenty of competition. It took three rounds of elimination voting before Xi was elected.
Excellent summary. I live in SE Asia and your descriptions fit what I see.
Two niggles:
1. The Party anticipated "increasing, and pervasive, corruption within the Party" in 1980, and planned for it accordingly. So Chinese corruption never reached the policy-making level and never hampered policy execution. Bribers bribed officials to let them, rather than their cross-town rival, build the new bridge or subway. By 2012, officials' salaries had fallen so far behind the fast-rising median that Xi was forced to give all 7 million of them a 60% pay raise. Only then did he lower the corruption boom and double their workload.
2. "At the end of the decade the two possible new leaders of the CPC to replace Hu Jintao were Bo Xilai and Xi Jinping”. Only if we believe Time Magazine, which gave Bo a cover. Otherwise, the guy was known as a ruthless self-promoter who, in the words of his famous father, "Trades on my name without any experience of ordinary life or compassion towards ordinary people”. He was not on the 5-man shortlist, but there was plenty of competition. It took three rounds of elimination voting before Xi was elected.