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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMost Russians and Pakistanis say they prefer a ‘strong ruler’ over democracy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/11/most-russians-and-pakistanis-say-they-prefer-a-strong-ruler-over-democracy/The Pew global attitudes project, a big set of periodic surveys on everything from economics to religion, is a terrific window into the public opinions and ideas that increasingly guide our world. Ill be returning to this data over the coming days and weeks, but this one really struck me. Pew asked people in seven countries whether they prefer democratic government or one with a strong leader. The latter choice was more popular in only two countries: Pakistan and Russia. In the other five, democracy is most popular among polled respondents.
People in these seven countries, generally speaking, seem to have the kind of government they want. The one exception is Pakistan, where people seem to want less democracy, based on this poll. The other results suggest bad news for Russias opposition and good news for public pressure keeping Egypts new government in check. Heres the poll question as it was read:
Some feel that we should rely on a democratic form of government to solve our countrys problems. Others feel that we should rely on a leader with a strong hand to solve our countrys problems. Which comes closer to your opinion?
agentS
(1,325 posts)get corrupted by their power, and/or when they get killed or too ill they don't have anyone on the bench who can take their place.
Idi Amin and many victorious revolutionary cum presidentes are of the first type.
Chavez and Castro are of the second type- while they are strongmen, they are not 'Saddam Hussein' types or have extensive secret police presences. However, both are ill and approaching the point where they can't serve anymore. Without those 'strong man' leaders the country collapses or roils with civil strife.
That is why democracy, which is often crazy, has a distinct advantage: if your leader dies or gets too corrupt, there is a replacement and a process available. You're not stuck with only 1 guy who can do the job.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)What a paradox.
KharmaTrain
(31,706 posts)Democracy is still a new concept in Russia...a country that was ruled as a private plantation for centuries under the Czars and then replaced by the oligarchy of the Soviets for most of the 20th century. Authoritarian rule has been ingrained in the culture...especially during tough times...people turn to a "father figure" to fix the problems. Today Putin is that father figure but I'm still encouraged by the steady progress of democracy in Russia...as a child of the cold war and "duck and cover" I feel we live in a better world today in regards to where things are at inside Russia. Hopefully we'll see more progress in the years ahead.
As far as Pakistan...this is a manufactured state...with its boundries drawn arbitrarily by the British and still lacks a national identity. People identify by their tribes or region...and add in decades of corruption and authoritarian rule and it's no surprise that people in that part of the world consider it the status quo. Between the strife going on across the border in Afghanistan...and inside with the ongoing drone attacks on one side and the on-going war with India on the other side, this is a country full of uncertainty and reliant on its authoritarian government to keep the country from slipping into total anarchy. I'll bet if they conducted this poll in Yemen they'd get similar results as well...