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Hilarious: "This helps to explain why some clearly inept authoritarian leaders nevertheless hold on to power – and even popularity – for extended periods (cf. H
by calibraxis 12y ago
Hilarious: "This helps to explain why some clearly inept authoritarian leaders nevertheless hold on to power – and even popularity – for extended periods (cf. Hugo Chavez)"
Take former US president Jimmy Carter: "As a matter of fact, of the 92 elections that we've monitored, I would say that the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world." (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/03/why-us-dcemonises-venezuelas-democracy http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/03/why-us-...)
Compare to the US's Bush vs. Gore vote fiasco where a court decided the vote. (And where the winner failed to win a plurality of the popular vote. Not to mention that most votes don't count anyway, due to swing states; and racist voter disenfranchisement.) Also compare to the powerful Bush and Clinton families.
These authors are from France and the US. If they were serious about improving the world, they'd look at their immensely powerful militant nations. Not far weaker ones.
- Alex_Notchenko 12y agoGuriev is actually from Russia. He was exiled in 2013. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/gurievs-exile-is-a-huge-loss-for-russia/481652.html http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/gurievs-exile-...
- griffinmahon 12y agoIn the same way, the point in the the third paragraph about incumbents always winning simulated elections in these countries is moot. Incumbents also literally almost always win elections in the US! Especially at the Congressional level, which is where real material changes are affected (or not).