Michael
Mar 31st 2010, 05:39 PM
The Scary New Rich
The global middle class is more unstable and less liberal than we thought.
The middle classes have always been the bulwark of society. Aristotle believed they were democracy's secret weapon—the protectors of social values, the moderators of political extremism, ramparts of reason over fiat, and believers in a society run by laws instead of by strongmen. They have also been the engines of economic growth, setting the stage centuries ago for the expansion of capitalism and global trade, and continuing through the ages to snap up every new gadget or service in sight. Now, with the Western middle classes sinking into debt and distress, many economists look to a new emerging-market middle class as the potential foundation for a new age of global safety and prosperity. As China, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, India, Indonesia, and other large developing nations became more prosperous, it was always assumed that they would become more like the suburbs of Washington or London—liberal, democratic, market-friendly bastions not only of Western-style consumerism but also of political liberty. With time and wealth, "they" would become just like "us."
...
But converging incomes are not yielding shared values. The emerging bourgeoisie is a patchwork of contradictions: clamorous but rarely confrontational politically, supporters of globalization yet highly nationalistic, proud of their nations' upward mobility yet insecure and fearful they will fall back, fiercely individualistic but reliant on government subsidies, and often socially conservative. Many of the aspiring elite seem willing to let the powers that be—whether authoritarian governments or elected ones—call the shots as long as they deliver the spoils of growth.
Source (http://www.newsweek.com/id/234589)
This is article is typical western media drivel - it only makes sense if you are completely ignorant of history. Coming from Newsweek, one shouldn't be surprised - they make PEOPLE magazine seem highbrow and serious by comparison.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting this and discussing this is because this is the third article I've read about this topic in the last few months. Clearly this is part of a trend. They all make the same mistake.
So all the surveys point to the fact that the new middle class in China, India and Brazil (even Russia) are a bunch of red-blooded nationalists eh? Apparently this is 'proof' that this new rising middle class doesn't share our western value system. I consider it proof that our media are a bunch of ignorant idiots.
One quick look at late 19th century western countries - when they were engaged in a similar process of massively increasing the middle class (just like China, India, Brazil and Russia are doing now), you will find a bunch of red-blooded nationalists - indeed, the kind of red-blooded nationalism that marched us right into World War I.
Peel back another layer or two and you will see that USA and Britain in the late 19th century were obsessed with the public policy of eugenics. And Mathus. And extreme nationalism. And extreme racism. And extreme anti-liberalism.
A hundred years later, that's not the case in the west. But to pretend that our western middle classes have always been spineless little consumers lining up peacefully to vote and buy the latest gadgets is bullshit. In the late 19th century they were a bunch of redneck nationalists - just like one finds in China, India, Russia and Brazil today.
I wonder if these countries are working hard to create the same kind of idiot mass media that we have here?
The global middle class is more unstable and less liberal than we thought.
The middle classes have always been the bulwark of society. Aristotle believed they were democracy's secret weapon—the protectors of social values, the moderators of political extremism, ramparts of reason over fiat, and believers in a society run by laws instead of by strongmen. They have also been the engines of economic growth, setting the stage centuries ago for the expansion of capitalism and global trade, and continuing through the ages to snap up every new gadget or service in sight. Now, with the Western middle classes sinking into debt and distress, many economists look to a new emerging-market middle class as the potential foundation for a new age of global safety and prosperity. As China, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, India, Indonesia, and other large developing nations became more prosperous, it was always assumed that they would become more like the suburbs of Washington or London—liberal, democratic, market-friendly bastions not only of Western-style consumerism but also of political liberty. With time and wealth, "they" would become just like "us."
...
But converging incomes are not yielding shared values. The emerging bourgeoisie is a patchwork of contradictions: clamorous but rarely confrontational politically, supporters of globalization yet highly nationalistic, proud of their nations' upward mobility yet insecure and fearful they will fall back, fiercely individualistic but reliant on government subsidies, and often socially conservative. Many of the aspiring elite seem willing to let the powers that be—whether authoritarian governments or elected ones—call the shots as long as they deliver the spoils of growth.
Source (http://www.newsweek.com/id/234589)
This is article is typical western media drivel - it only makes sense if you are completely ignorant of history. Coming from Newsweek, one shouldn't be surprised - they make PEOPLE magazine seem highbrow and serious by comparison.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting this and discussing this is because this is the third article I've read about this topic in the last few months. Clearly this is part of a trend. They all make the same mistake.
So all the surveys point to the fact that the new middle class in China, India and Brazil (even Russia) are a bunch of red-blooded nationalists eh? Apparently this is 'proof' that this new rising middle class doesn't share our western value system. I consider it proof that our media are a bunch of ignorant idiots.
One quick look at late 19th century western countries - when they were engaged in a similar process of massively increasing the middle class (just like China, India, Brazil and Russia are doing now), you will find a bunch of red-blooded nationalists - indeed, the kind of red-blooded nationalism that marched us right into World War I.
Peel back another layer or two and you will see that USA and Britain in the late 19th century were obsessed with the public policy of eugenics. And Mathus. And extreme nationalism. And extreme racism. And extreme anti-liberalism.
A hundred years later, that's not the case in the west. But to pretend that our western middle classes have always been spineless little consumers lining up peacefully to vote and buy the latest gadgets is bullshit. In the late 19th century they were a bunch of redneck nationalists - just like one finds in China, India, Russia and Brazil today.
I wonder if these countries are working hard to create the same kind of idiot mass media that we have here?