Dambisa Moyo: Do Developing Nations Need Dictators?

[luizcadu]

Many dictatorships improved social indicators and/or generated economic growth, at least in their first years. Cuba, the Soviet Union, The Asian Tigers, even Italy under Mussolini and Chile under Pinochet. The problem is that every dictatorship is a risk, it can completely backfire (Idi Amin, Papa Doc, Pol Pot) and even if it succeeds in the first years, or in the first decade, dictators can get corrupt, attached to the power or lead countries to wars, and everything it gained starts to ruin.

[gabriel82030]

Yes, what about the dictators of Eritrea and Ethiopia? Are they running their economies properly? The latter is known to be a professional beggar and is heavily dependent on aid and has been so since the terrible era of famine 1984 while the former is a young nation that has been harping on the string for self-dependancy if you like. Please comment on this.

[MondoBeno]

She could be right. Ataturk was a dictator, but would Democracy have worked for Turkay in the 1920's? It barely worked in Britain and France, and didn't ork in Germany.

[nchip]

When you are wake up every morning hungry, you will sell your vote for some corrupt "leader". For the poor people, democracy is a luxury that can be sacrificed for food. A country needs a big middle class before democracy works.

[maximuslaurius]

she is so right it hurts.

[SoldierCyfix]

no what you need is not a benevolent dictator [ because they don't exist] you need a benevolent republic; like the one the USA used to have

[luciferiexcelsil]

hmmm, well, the thing is, Democracy is like a flower... it takes people to water it, give it time, and put it in good soil, so that it can grow to a fully mature and healthy flower... you can't force it to work instantly, it can take a hundred years of Democracy to actually become what it is.... people just want Utopian socialist governments, and instantly.. for France and the U.S, has taken more than 200 years, what would make Africa so different? it will also take 200 years...

[BaronBridget]

Honestly, what's with everyone automatically thinking of Hitler and such? Civilization started as dictatorships, no matter how you want to cut it. 'Dictator', or any other form of government that isn't 'Democracy' or perhaps 'Republic', has gotten an automatic bad stamp by anyone living in a Democracy. There are other ways to achieve what you have available to you, and it doesn't have to be by skipping all the middle steps.

[LabeerehnGbanna]

Dambisa is a very brilliant lady!!! I've always said it--African nations need strong dictators who mean well. Democracy, so-called, just isn't working.

[bigbuggie5]

@LabeerehnGbanna I can't think of one dicator that doesn't let the power get to his head. Africa is full of evil dictators.

[LabeerehnGbanna]

@bigbuggie5 That's because such leaders are often pressured by external forces to follow Western style of government. They do whatever they can to maintain their control over internal oppositions which are often incited by the western supremist governments who strongly believe that they, and only they, know what is good for everyone at everywhere.

[sguardian870]

@bigbuggie5 KOREA HAD A DICTATOR THAT PLACED THEM IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD THE PROBLEM WITH AFRICA IOS THE DICTATORS ARE PUT THERE BY THE WEST TO DO THEIR BIDDING.....CAN U SAY IDI AMIN...IN A MAJORITY OF CASES

[AussiePolitics]

@sguardian870 for fucks sake why the hell do you have to capitalise the whole thing?

[jmcclellan54321]

What she is saying is common sense in that if you look at America, which is a perfect model, it started out as a dictatorship under British rule, then the colonies broke away in revolt over economics (they had a vested interest now) and we have a free country as a result. The same could happen in Africa, it won't be pretty or neat, yet it is possible. All throughout history you can see that it is a natural progression for all societies. She is right on.

[Salvia02390]

My view exactly! American democracy can't be forced on every society, this isn't a

'one-size fits all' deal. A cohesive government led by a "dictator" can push through changes that partisan politics never would have the courage to implement.

[ProBo0oy]

According to this interview, dictatorships have become concerns for a lot of nations. They said that impoverished countries need dictators, but its is inappropriate for the current international economics. We dont need a new era for Hitler or Musolini, which we tried to destroy not long ago.

[andyly0071]

smartest black girl ever seen so far, very very smart, see through the whites' game

[juliandeathgod]

"smartest black girl ever seen so far"

That's really condesecending.

WTF is the "whites' game"?

[jp3711nc1]

If we look at history look what has dictators gave us killing of millions of jews murdering of there own people ya they really need dictators.

[sguardian870]

@jp3711nc1 AND WHAT HAS DEMOCRACY GIVEN TO AFRICANS WHICH IS THE QUESTION NOT AMERICANS WESTERNER NEED TO GET DOWN FROM THEIR IGNORANT HIGH HORSES AND REALISE THAT COUNTRIES ARE DIFFERENT AND NEED DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEADERSHIP AND POLICIES TO MOVE FORWARD, WONDER IF CHINA WOULD BE WEAR IT IS TODAY IF THEY HAD NOT GONE COMMUNIST.....

[Mrmoc7]

I hope everyone watches the full video before taking the time to comment here.

[averylbrooks]

Yea at least some of the comments are from people who didn't watch but twenty seconds of the video. Kinda surprised they couldn't make it through 1:38... short attention spans I guess.

[Mrmoc7]

I was actually referring to the full video @ the fora website, just over half an hour long.

[marderend]

she is wants transparent institutions, and she is advocating a temporary dictatorship? it cannot work like that. a good counter example is Iran! with all the oil revenues, lack of transparent government has crippled the economy! political development and economical development should go hand in hand. dictatorship never works .. , and please don't give me the example of China, because if you ask their smart people, they are not too happy about a government that's not accountable and transparent.

[sguardian870]

@marderend YET THE CHINESE LIVE A WAY BETTER LIFE THAN THE AFRICAN AND HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MILLIONNAIRES.......BY THE WAY IRAN IS A SANCTIONED NATION........THATS WHAT ECONOMICAL SANCTIONS ARE MENT TO DO CRIPPLE THE GOVERNMENT........WAKE UP AND DONT BE IGNORANT WHEN U SPEAK.

[Loveseekingmissile]

Has she lost her Moyo? Americans can't even hold their own government accountable.

[trevor920]

anarchy/emergent order/self organization/pure economic and personal freedom  is needed

[greenhell666]

thats because at least some dictators arent international puppets, some of they are real nacionalists.

as for reagan, bush and obama democracy crusade ... thats just intervention and sometimes american terrorism as chomsky said.

[Matchu80]

Yup, we need dictatorship to influence democracy.

Makes perfect oxymoronical sense.

[eirefrance]

That isn't really what shes saying, though.

[jp3711nc1]

you are kidding right I am not going to give any control over my life to anybody whoever is in charge my life my choices I make are my own not someone else.

[globalarte]

I understand what she is saying ... i agree.

[mindrunfree]

What she is saying makes sense. It's the same with raising children. They must start out with having a strong, trustworthy, benevolent, and loving figure that guides them and mentors them first before they move into a primarily self deterministic kind of relationship with the world.

[Mrmoc7]

Brilliant analogy.

[Ray2DeepGilmore]

If the thoughts of the people are influenced by the rulers, is it still democracy?

[Mrmoc7]

Yes, that's the practical definition of democracy...duh

[m0nkeybl1tz]

By this definition, isn't a dictator always better? I mean, if there's someone who can magically encourage growth, then why shouldn't they be in total control? The fact is, though, that one person rarely has all the answers. Granted our convoluted model of democracy isn't optimal, but a dictator is risky business.

[GunOwnerDan]

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch."

The world doesn't need democracy, the world needs liberty and the freedoms found in our Bill Of Rights.

[Pomme843]

@GunOwnerDan Or, dictatorship, apparently. Don't know whether you find these compatible.

[GunOwnerDan]

@Pomme843

Read the Bill Of Rights and then tell me if it's compatible with a dictatorship.

[Pomme843]

@GunOwnerDan Depends on whether the dictator respects those rights. The fact that most dictators are assholes doesn't mean that a dictator necessarily must disregard such rights. And don't tell me the American Bill of Rights doesn't bare weaknesses. Some of its Amendments are... disputable. And culture specific. Contingent upon the history of America pre-USA.

[GunOwnerDan]

@Pomme843

I must disagree. No part of the Bill Of Rights is outdated. In fact, the Bill Of Rights is just as important today as it has ever been.

You will find in most dictatorships citizens do not have the basic right to speak freely, there is no freedom of the press, they do not have the right to practice their own religion freely, there is no protection from unreasonable government actions.

Also, many dictatorships and totalitarian governments fear an armed citizenry so they ban guns.

[Politicrafty]

This reminds me of the Ted Talks about post-conflict development. The emphasis on politics needs to be superseded by a focus on economic growth and shared incentives. It seems to be a consensus.

[Mastikator]

That's a pretty radical opinion.

Though, I gotta agree with her that "shoehorning" a democracy is simply not an option.