"if you have ever spent more than a few hours living in a Third World country and you were sort of paying attention during this time, you will note that politics in such a country is a zero-sum game." What you describe sounds more like North American politics, with 2 main parties disagreeing on everything to the detriment of the country.…
"if you have ever spent more than a few hours living in a Third World country and you were sort of paying attention during this time, you will note that politics in such a country is a zero-sum game." What you describe sounds more like North American politics, with 2 main parties disagreeing on everything to the detriment of the country. I wonder what third world countries you're referring to? I spent many years in Indonesia, both before and after the downfall of Soeharto. The unfortunate truth is that democracy tends to create this constant 'combative' atmosphere between parties. 'Benevolent dictators', like Soeharto, can do wonders for a country if they genuinely care about the people. Putin similarly turned things around in Russia. Lee Kuan Yew is widely recognized for the successes of Singapore and it certainly wasn't democratic. The switch to democracy in Indonesia was remarkable but the lack of clear leadership and policy since then shows the inherent weakness of democracy.
I also spent a lot of time in Ukraine and was there during the Maidan Revolution in 2014. Democracy was doing well till then and they could have voted out the elected leader a year from them, but they chose violence instead. The country is still paying the consequences of that decision, which was made by a small, nationalist minority with Western support. The best solution now is pretty much the same as it was then: fix your internal problems and quit looking to the West or Russia for help, and don't allow yourself to be a pawn in their chess match. Unfortunately, it's difficult to fix the problems without a strong leader that can make hard decisions and take decisive action. Pre-Maidan, it was often suggested that a Swiss style of government would have been effective in Ukraine. I suspect that is still true but with nationalists in control, that isn't likely to happen.
NATO membership is the key issue and the west (and Ukraine) should not be insistent on this. After the breakup of the USSR, the West promised not to move an inch closer with NATO. It's time the West quit provoking the Russian bear and gave them a measure of respect.
This is old, and a lot has changed, but I couldn't help but respond to this disingenuous post.
" 'Benevolent dictators', like Soeharto," ... "Putin similarly turned things around in Russia" .... In 2020 GDP per capita in Russia was level with 2007 - 13 years later, no lasting growth. Between 2010 and 2020 median income fell 35%. He's alienated most of the developed world. You're right - he's been great.
As for Ukraine's thriving democracy before 2014. What a funny point you chose to pick. The Maidan was the SECOND time the people of Ukraine had to rise up to overthrow the SAME Kremlin backed president. Literally, this guy had already been tossed in a revolution once before. And got back in power. So yeah, all was roses before Maidan you're right. What exactly was wrong with Zelenskyys election? Please, elaborate on how much worse it was than when they elected a guy they had to revolt to throw off a few years before.
Any conversation of democracy in Ukraine or anywhere in the ex-Soviet republics is scarred by the manner in which Russia continues to treat them as satellite states. As long as Russia feels it is their right to determine who is president of other sovereign nations, and uses their military to do so, you will not have true democracy.
The roots of Ukraine's political crises are not domestic. Never have been. The Russian language stuff is nonsense - they LITERALLY HAVE A RUSSIAN SPEAKING PRESIDENT (Zelensky). The genocide claims have never once been backed with any public presentation of evidence - just "Trust me bro" from people who break their word constantly.
When were you in Ukraine? I first went in 2003, then spent a lot of time there from 2009-14. What was most surprising to me was that they didn't 'feel' like a country with a clear border and identity, yet they all got along with each other extremely well (ethnic Russians and Ukrainians). In Canada, we had a clear identity of Ukraine and its borders, which perhaps didn't encompass the large 'Russian' population. After 2014, it was tragic seeing families break apart as everybody had to 'chose a side'.
As for 'empires', the UK has largely put that ambition and heritage to rest and it's time the US did the same.
"if you have ever spent more than a few hours living in a Third World country and you were sort of paying attention during this time, you will note that politics in such a country is a zero-sum game." What you describe sounds more like North American politics, with 2 main parties disagreeing on everything to the detriment of the country. I wonder what third world countries you're referring to? I spent many years in Indonesia, both before and after the downfall of Soeharto. The unfortunate truth is that democracy tends to create this constant 'combative' atmosphere between parties. 'Benevolent dictators', like Soeharto, can do wonders for a country if they genuinely care about the people. Putin similarly turned things around in Russia. Lee Kuan Yew is widely recognized for the successes of Singapore and it certainly wasn't democratic. The switch to democracy in Indonesia was remarkable but the lack of clear leadership and policy since then shows the inherent weakness of democracy.
I also spent a lot of time in Ukraine and was there during the Maidan Revolution in 2014. Democracy was doing well till then and they could have voted out the elected leader a year from them, but they chose violence instead. The country is still paying the consequences of that decision, which was made by a small, nationalist minority with Western support. The best solution now is pretty much the same as it was then: fix your internal problems and quit looking to the West or Russia for help, and don't allow yourself to be a pawn in their chess match. Unfortunately, it's difficult to fix the problems without a strong leader that can make hard decisions and take decisive action. Pre-Maidan, it was often suggested that a Swiss style of government would have been effective in Ukraine. I suspect that is still true but with nationalists in control, that isn't likely to happen.
NATO membership is the key issue and the west (and Ukraine) should not be insistent on this. After the breakup of the USSR, the West promised not to move an inch closer with NATO. It's time the West quit provoking the Russian bear and gave them a measure of respect.
This is old, and a lot has changed, but I couldn't help but respond to this disingenuous post.
" 'Benevolent dictators', like Soeharto," ... "Putin similarly turned things around in Russia" .... In 2020 GDP per capita in Russia was level with 2007 - 13 years later, no lasting growth. Between 2010 and 2020 median income fell 35%. He's alienated most of the developed world. You're right - he's been great.
As for Ukraine's thriving democracy before 2014. What a funny point you chose to pick. The Maidan was the SECOND time the people of Ukraine had to rise up to overthrow the SAME Kremlin backed president. Literally, this guy had already been tossed in a revolution once before. And got back in power. So yeah, all was roses before Maidan you're right. What exactly was wrong with Zelenskyys election? Please, elaborate on how much worse it was than when they elected a guy they had to revolt to throw off a few years before.
Any conversation of democracy in Ukraine or anywhere in the ex-Soviet republics is scarred by the manner in which Russia continues to treat them as satellite states. As long as Russia feels it is their right to determine who is president of other sovereign nations, and uses their military to do so, you will not have true democracy.
The roots of Ukraine's political crises are not domestic. Never have been. The Russian language stuff is nonsense - they LITERALLY HAVE A RUSSIAN SPEAKING PRESIDENT (Zelensky). The genocide claims have never once been backed with any public presentation of evidence - just "Trust me bro" from people who break their word constantly.
You have to identify the problem to solve it.
I also spent many years in Ukraine, among other places.
When were you in Ukraine? I first went in 2003, then spent a lot of time there from 2009-14. What was most surprising to me was that they didn't 'feel' like a country with a clear border and identity, yet they all got along with each other extremely well (ethnic Russians and Ukrainians). In Canada, we had a clear identity of Ukraine and its borders, which perhaps didn't encompass the large 'Russian' population. After 2014, it was tragic seeing families break apart as everybody had to 'chose a side'.
As for 'empires', the UK has largely put that ambition and heritage to rest and it's time the US did the same.