My apologies to all who are reading 'Marley & Me' & 'Game of Shadows' ,I have not quite reached there yet.I'm a slow reader and still reading 2003 publications.
'Future of Freedom' is definitely not for readers who liked 'What to expect when you are expecting' .It is a thought provoking book for readers interested in Democracy , Liberty and contemporary history .It probes deep into, if there is something as 'too much of democracy'.
Fareed Zakaria's book is well supported by facts and statistical data on why democracy has survived & thrived in some countries whereas not in some other parts of the world.There is a direct correlation between the country's GDP and chances of survival of democracy.Although some poor countries have become democracies ,but when countries become democratic at low level of development their democracy usually dies.India of course being an exception here.
Land reforms have played a crucial role in turning a backward society into a modern capitalist, democratic one.Countries like Zimbabwe ,Pakistan and parts of Central America have failed in implementing land reforms and hence have a painful experience with democracy.Even in parts of India where democracy is most dysfunctional are those where land reforms have failed (UP & Bihar).
The single most important test of connection between capitalism & democracy will take place in China in next few decades.
Less taxation and wealth from natural resources tend to make democracy weak.Rulers/Government in countries rich with natural resources like UAE , Nigeria or Venezuela are corrupt ,autocratic and heavy-handed. They have not only plundered the natural wealth to make the bureacracy more autocratic but also less responsible towards strenghtening institutions like Free Press & Judiciary.As these provide framework & laws that generate natural wealth.
The author points out at process flow when governments starts liberalising.Economic liberlization should preceed political liberlization.Some countries after claiming independence immediately succumebed to a dictators rule soon after.For a developing and a middle income country the biggest challenge today is consolidating into a true democracy.
Singapore & Mexico are good examples of how by scheduling economic reforms first, can bring excellent results before the government starts liberalising the political system.
Author is concerned over Americans losing faith in their democracy.Voting levels in Presidential elections have gone down by 20% since 1960.Politics of Populism is hurting American democracy to the core.Special interests , organised groups now run Washington.Two Senators every state has also hurt states like California. Getting represented with only 2 senators while states like Alaska and Wyoming with significantly less population got an unfair distribution of resources and federal funds.
Fareed Zakaria also points at how politics and governance is tightly controlled by different lobbyists in DC and not by real agenda.Author points at scores of subsidies given to different industries because of their powerful lobby groups.All these moneys could have been utilised to fund welfare and healthcare programs.
In California the system of refrendums & initiatives has left 85% of the budget out of legislature's control.Over the years lots of bills & ordinace have piled up which are redundant and obsolete and government cannot do much about it.This is a great example of how too much democracy can completely go wrong.
Despite all its flaws democracy is still the 'last best hope' for people around the world.In twentieth century the challenge was to make world safe for democracy. Today as we enter the twenty-first century the challenge in front of us is to make democracy safe for the world.
** Fareed Zakaria is Editor of Newsweek International.He graduated from Yale and has a Ph.D from Harvard .
