Will the China Model outcompete and overtake democratic capitalism?

There is no denying the success of China's economic development strategy: A mix of political autocracy and partly state-planned, partly free market capitalism. In just three decades, China has moved hundreds of millions of its people out of poverty and become a peer competitor to the West in most cutting-edge technologies. The official state plan is to be THE premiere country in ALL major technology sectors by 2050 or earlier. China's rise in our adult lifetimes may be the most successful economic story in human history.

Yet, in the last decade or so cracks have appeared in the "China Model." Domestic problems, like frail air pollution, a frail financial/real estate sector have almost ended the miracle. And under Xi Jin Ping China has become much more authoritarian at home. In its foreign policies, , China has grown more nakedly ruthless, and its neighbors fear it.

Moreover, democratic capitalism still works. In fact, there are multiple, successful models of mixed capitalism that are regularly validated - and alterable - by free and fair elections. There is a Scandinavian variant, one or more other European models, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, and maybe a few others.

Which economic and political model will win the future? Does there have to be a winner? Can both systems coexist in a hyper-connected, interdependent world without falling into economic calamity and/or war? Under President Trump, U.S. global leadership has...just been surrendered. And we are pretty much switching models, towards political authoritarianism and plutocratic capitalism and away from liberal democratic capitalism (at least IMO).

What if we can't go back? Does China become the dominant world power, and the model for developing countries? Or could Europe or Japan or Korea of India, etc., step up?

Shortly, DavidG will add a short list of possible discussion questions for our meeting that might help keep us on track. The first one obviously will be what is the "China Model" and its more democratic alternatives. Check back here in a week for Qs and the week before our mtg for some optional background readings.

Optional Backgrounders --

• TBA.