Lockdown: Authoritarian State vs Liberal Democratic State

[kadiot]

Is it easier to enforce a lockdown in an AUTHORITARIAN state than in a liberal democratic state like ours?

I think so! In centrally commanded economies, whatever the Politburo orders, goes...

In a LIBERAL DEMOCRACY like ours, we all shout in a chaotic noisy cacophony, all wanting our voices to be heard and always second guessing the leaders!

N.B. Maybe the reason why leaders in liberal democracies want to declare martial law many times... uhmmm...

What say you?

 

[wukunlin]

If by Authoritarian you mean like China, then yes, they can take drastic measures without being attacked by an opposition party which can lead to loss in votes in the next election (because there is no general election). Decision making is definitely more efficient.

 

[kadiot]

Yes, like China. Totalitarian is an objective clinical term for totalitarian countries. In fact, China is not ashamed of it. It's communist party is proud of being called totalitarian. It is their system.

 

[wukunlin]

Well, I lived almost my whole life in New Zealand, which most people will agree that it is democratic. Then I moved to China in my twenties. I felt that in comparison, things are much more fast paced in China because the political bickerings are skipped. I also feel that, while we call then "totalitarian" and typically with a negative connotation, it is not that different from democratic countries. i.e. politicians get to do whatever they want once they are in charge.

 

[fresh_42]

Well, I lived almost my whole life in New Zealand, which most people will agree that it is democratic. Then I moved to China in my twenties. I felt that in comparison, things are much more fast paced in China because the political bickerings are skipped. I also feel that, while we call then "totalitarian" and typically with a negative connotation, it is not that different from democratic countries. i.e. politicians get to do whatever they want once they are in charge.

There is a positive aspect of a system like the Chinese in the current situation. They have qualified scientists, a huge amount of data, and experimentees to develop and test therapeutica as well as vaccines faster than in the rest of the world, because their obstacles for human tests are significantly lower. In a way China is the best lab we could get these days. The ethical assessment is a different one.

 

[wukunlin]

There is a positive aspect of a system like the Chinese in the current situation. They have qualified scientists, a huge amount of data, and experimentees to develop and test therapeutica as well as vaccines faster than in the rest of the world, because their obstacles for human tests are significantly lower. In a way China is the best lab we could get these days. The ethical assessment is a different one.

Yeah, the ethics thing is tricky. The mentality here is mostly along the lines of: "If this is going to save more people in the end, why not?" They do expect the rest of the world to be grateful, which isn't hard to understand IMO.

 

[Borek]

Problem with totalitarian systems is that while they can be definitely much more effective in some situations, they tend to degenerate because of a lack of an independent control.

 

[fresh_42]

Problem with totalitarian systems is that while they can be definitely much more effective in some situations, they tend to degenerate because of a lack of an independent control.

More democratic systems can degenerate as well. I think I don't have to name an example.

 

[hutchphd]

“The great strength of the totalitarian state is that it forces those who fear it to imitate it.”
Adolf Hitler, September 1933

 

[Evo]

Sorry, this is too political, thread locked.