But while the historical mechanism represented by modern
natural science is sufficient to explain a great deal about the character
of historical change and the growing uniformity of modern
societies, it is not sufficient to account for the phenomenon of
democracy. There is no question but that the world's most developed
countries are also its most successful democracies. But while
modern natural science guides us to the gates of the Promised
Land of liberal democracy, it does not deliver us to the Promised
Land itself, for there is no economically necessary reason why
advanced industrialization should produce political liberty. Stable
democracy has at times emerged in pre-industrial societies, as it
did in the United States in 1 776. On the other hand, there are
many historical and contemporary examples of technologically
advanced capitalism coexisting with political authoritarianism,
from Meiji Japan and Bismarckian Germany to present-day Singapore
and Thailand. In many cases, authoritarian states are capable
of producing rates of economic growth unachievable in
democratic societies.
But while the historical mechanism represented by modernnatural science is sufficient to explain a great deal about the characterof historical change and the growing uniformity of modernsocieties, it is not sufficient to account for the phenomenon ofdemocracy. There is no question but that the world's most developedcountries are also its most successful democracies. But whilemodern natural science guides us to the gates of the PromisedLand of liberal democracy, it does not deliver us to the PromisedLand itself, for there is no economically necessary reason whyadvanced industrialization should produce political liberty. Stabledemocracy has at times emerged in pre-industrial societies, as itdid in the United States in 1 776. On the other hand, there aremany historical and contemporary examples of technologicallyadvanced capitalism coexisting with political authoritarianism,from Meiji Japan and Bismarckian Germany to present-day Singaporeand Thailand. In many cases, authoritarian states are capableof producing rates of economic growth unachievable indemocratic societies.
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