Re:China’s great leap forward in science
by seagullz on Sunday February 18, 2018 @09:40AM
(#16406251)
Generally speaking, the dichotomy involving "personal freedom" vs. "economic development" does not have to be inevitable if the political consciousness and the relevant constructive action on the part of the people concerned is there. So what ends up happening in China or elsewhere depends on the choices made there, though as outsiders we can speculate.
Ha-joon Chang was not advocating to trade personal freedom for economic development; he was explaining what really transpired, contrary to the official narrative on economic development.
Re:China’s great leap forward in science
by aaron-lebo on Sunday February 18, 2018 @09:45AM
(#16406276)
Ok, understood. Disagree that there is an "official narrative" about free trade/economic development (we never got a copy of that at my school), nor that a focus on free trade alone accounts for what's happened there.
It does look like an interesting paper. Thanks.
Re:China’s great leap forward in science
by chillee on Sunday February 18, 2018 @10:46AM
(#16406545)
To most Chinese people, it's not really viewed as "trading personal freedoms" for "economic development". It's more viewed as "trading personal freedoms" for a "better quality of life".
Most people won't complain about personal freedoms as long as their QOL is improving rapidly.
Some argue that China will do the same thing, but it's just as likely the elites continue to hoard most of the benefits of this development and it stays closed off. Trading personal freedoms for economic development is temping and very scary because it's tempting.