> freedom produces more wealth than totalitarianism - which the US won
> The problem with China is that the argument is much harder to win
> What gets me is that this is not something to win on the battlefield
Authoritarian state capitalism already won this fight. Everybody is realizing that the marriage between liberal democracy and bourgeois capitalism is coming to an end.
For Western societies, the only remaining ways to assert dominance are 1) war & violence, 2) becoming more authoritarian themselves, or 3) a radically new way Western societies organize production and the distribution of wealth.
I disagree. People don't want to live under authoritarian regimes. I'm willing to bet that for many working professionals have moved to the West to escape authoritarianism at home, and were willing to accept lower living standards (smaller home etc.) in exchange for greater freedom and peace of mind.
How is it clear that authoritarian state capitalism has won the fight? China is still less productive per Capita than the west. Most of it's advantage comes from it's population size, and demographics are bringing that to a halt.
I’m trying to understand where this perspective is coming from?
From most measures China has peaked. Its state capitalism has gotten it a housing bubble and investment in industries with not enough customers. Combine that with its falling birth rate and high youth unemployment it would seem that the failures, not successes, are on display.
> The problem with China is that the argument is much harder to win
> What gets me is that this is not something to win on the battlefield
Authoritarian state capitalism already won this fight. Everybody is realizing that the marriage between liberal democracy and bourgeois capitalism is coming to an end.
For Western societies, the only remaining ways to assert dominance are 1) war & violence, 2) becoming more authoritarian themselves, or 3) a radically new way Western societies organize production and the distribution of wealth.