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We also assumed as countries became more rich/industrialized/advanced they would become more democratic, and more concerned with human rights, and less zero-sum

We also assumed as countries became more rich/industrialized/advanced they would become more democratic, and more concerned with human rights, and less zero-sum adversarial in dealing with the United States. I think those hopes are no longer mainstream thinking in regards to China. How confident should we be about the prediction that China will adopt similar policies to the US in regards to the things you are mentioning?

BurningFrog 7y ago
China has definitely become much better on human rights. It's not often mentioned in polite company, but the Chinese communist government killed ~65 million of its own citizens under Mao. I don't want to downplay the current regime's many and serious human rights violations, but they are thankfully on a much more modest level. Internationally, China has focused strongly on peaceful trade, not military confrontation.
- Joakal 7y ago
  They didn't kill them. They went through a government change, a revolution where they were experienced in fighting, not farming. The alternative was living under the old government that they hated. It's like in Zimbabwe, they kicked out the white farmers and suddenly they're no longer the bread state.
  - BurningFrog 7y ago
    You're saying the deaths were from incompetence in ruling, not deliberate murders. There was plenty of that, but it's not the dominant factor: https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/the-legacy-mao-zedong-mass-murder https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/the-legacy-mao-zedo...
_AzMoo 7y ago
We should be quite confident because there are signs they're already adopting environmentalist policies. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/chinas-choice/2014/apr/25/china-environment-law-fines-for-pollution https://www.theguardian.com/environment/chinas-choice/2014/a...
Joakal 7y ago
USA democratic system is one step away from China's one party system: it's a two party system in USA which hasn't changed much for centuries. Europe, Australia, etc, have more than two parties in government. More choice, more representation.
- seagullz 7y ago
  “There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party … and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat.” ― Gore Vidal

BurningFrog 7y ago

China has definitely become much better on human rights. It's not often mentioned in polite company, but the Chinese communist government killed ~65 million of its own citizens under Mao. I don't want to downplay the current regime's many and serious human rights violations, but they are thankfully on a much more modest level. Internationally, China has focused strongly on peaceful trade, not military confrontation.

Joakal 7y ago
They didn't kill them. They went through a government change, a revolution where they were experienced in fighting, not farming. The alternative was living under the old government that they hated. It's like in Zimbabwe, they kicked out the white farmers and suddenly they're no longer the bread state.
- BurningFrog 7y ago
  You're saying the deaths were from incompetence in ruling, not deliberate murders. There was plenty of that, but it's not the dominant factor: https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/the-legacy-mao-zedong-mass-murder https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/the-legacy-mao-zedo...

_AzMoo 7y ago

We should be quite confident because there are signs they're already adopting environmentalist policies. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/chinas-choice/2014/apr/25/china-environment-law-fines-for-pollution https://www.theguardian.com/environment/chinas-choice/2014/a...

Joakal 7y ago

USA democratic system is one step away from China's one party system: it's a two party system in USA which hasn't changed much for centuries. Europe, Australia, etc, have more than two parties in government. More choice, more representation.

seagullz 7y ago
“There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party … and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat.” ― Gore Vidal