The closing lesson: > forget grand ideologies and others’ models. There is no replacement for experimentation, independent thought, and ruthless pragmatism. T

The closing lesson: > forget grand ideologies and others’ models. There is no replacement for experimentation, independent thought, and ruthless pragmatism. The trick is distinguishing between what is truly pragmatic and not merely ruthless. One wonders if some of the illiberal policies like caning are regional necessities or minor pathologies that did not overwhelm the overall trend towards liberalization.