Mr Khan said:
Actually it's the other way around. A strong economy will heal political tensions in the short run, but in the long run it spells doom for dictatorships. Economic weakness is the one that's bad for democracy, and good for dictatorships. Look at Cuba: Communism there has persisted because the government's narrative of "America is out to get us" is graciously made true by the Americans thanks to the embargo. If we had dropped the embargo at the end of the Cold War, they'd've been democratic by now, but the perpetual poverty keeps people looking towards Communism. In Russia's case, economic collapse would either validate Putin's position, or lead to the rise of the far left or far right. |
True. After all Putin's main opponets are the middle class who prospered under him, not Yelstin.