I have noted the countries that are doing fairly well (Tanzania and Uganda) have suppressed opposition kabisa.
Why does it seems that for a country to run smoothly opposition must be harshly dealt with?
Because kuna cabal inajua how to use useful idiots vizuri sana. If for whatever reason they feel a government is not playing how they want it to play, they will do anything they can to destabilise it. They will fund opposition politicians, misuse the media, organize the youth to cause unrest, use your very own instruments of democracy to wreck havoc till the offending government is out. When you decide to take a nationalist route, then you better come heavily strapped to play a hard man’s game.
Yes. Democracy works. Look at Botswana. Uganda and Tanzania are doing well? Are you a fool?
I don’t think Uganda is doing fairly well. Not even slightly well. But Museveni is doing very well for himself though.
How about North Korea? Surely there’s no better example of a dictatorship. Are they doing well? Would you rather live in Pyongyang or Seoul?
Afadhali ungesema Rwanda…but they are also miles behind Kenya in terms of development
A dysfunctional democracy is worse than benevolent dictatorship.
I’d rather have a Singaporean or Chinese dictatorship than American or Kenyan type democracy
It’s not just enough to have dictatorship. What is the purpose of that dictatorship? What are your goals?
And even to be a benevolent dictator in itself is not enough. No country exists in a vacuum. Does the country have what it takes to withstand the incoming backlash?
It’s a tight balancing act. You have to throw a bone or two at the barking dogs that will come your way. Just enough that they stay satiated but never so much that your own children go hungry.
It takes smarts, finesse and an iron will to play that game and play it successfully. 3d chess. Not many are equipped enough to get it done.
I’d rather live in a country where the government doesn’t make you disappear or poison you or throw you in the gulag when you say something they don’t like. How can anything at all grow and improve without conflict and criticism. Echo chambers are dangerous and that’s honestly the only problem I have with Russia and China. I know you will dismiss me as a low IQ bonobo, but I believe Western style democracy for all its flaws is still the best. Note that I said Western not America, too often people here conflate the two. If I was to choose a country though, it would be a Nordic state like Denmark or Finland. They have the right balance on socioeconomic and political principles IMO.
Exactly! Even Moi knew when to let the critics have their day. Remember Martha Karua wagging her finger at him? What about Kihikas father and the crap he would spew? As strange as it sounds occasionally you have to placate the masses to maintain your stranglehold on them. Few men have that skill. So I totally agree, dictatorship alone is not enough. So many other factors come into play.
Look at how Manning, Assange and Snowden have been treated and you’ll quickly realize that democracy and freedom is a farce in much of the West.
The state engages in heavy brainwashing through the media to keep the population in check and support authoritarianism/wars abroad.
Pia huko Kuna line hauwezi cross.
The Nordic or Swiss model is better but a country has to be rich first before it adopts it.
I agree. So far, democracy is the best as imperfect as it is. It’s about how the majority are fairing in the society.
It’s the other way round. You adopt it and then you become rich.
You can add Rwanda, south africa and Botswana…but how is uganda and Tanzania considered success stories? Under what metrics?
Opppsition plays a huge role in keeping the government on its toes; healthy competition.
If the opposition is suppressed, the government can make all manner of improper decisions…because at the end of the day, there is no challenger.
Development and a country’s prosperity simply boils down to the type of leaders in office and has nothing to do with the opposition. The opposition actually has a reverse effect.
How does a poor country fund socialist programs?
Hapo kwa China umeongea. Political stability ingine moto sana.
So a mix of democracy and dictatorship can work?
You are mistaking populism with sensible democracy. Mob rule is not democracy
Do you think you can choose the dictatorship you want to live under?
Dictatorship works for small countries with seemingly strong unifying factors . Democracy is only ideal for vast countries with semi autonomouse territories. for example you cant have a dictatorship in a clanist country like somalia and ofcourse you wouldn’t even dare it in America