[Opinion] Why do nations fail? And is SA in danger of failing?

[Jopie Fourie]

We must go beyond institutions and interrogate the role of human beings within them

On a recent business trip, as is often the norm, I packed as part of my reading material a few books which I felt were necessary not only to juxtapose the current world situation in terms of economic growth (or lack thereof), rising unemployment and trade wars, but also to gather from other minds insights as to why some things, particularly in the modern international political economy, seemingly unfold in the manner in which they do.

But further, to understand from the viewpoint of other nations’ perspectives what constitutes ongoing exponential growth of other countries, while some seem stuck in regression.

Coincidentally, one of the books I packed was one I had read a few years back, by Daron Acemoglu and James A Robinson, titled Why Nations Fail.

In this book, the two argue that the most common reason for nations’ failures today is that they have extractive institutions.

They contend that nations fail because their extractive economic institutions do not create the incentives needed for people to save, invest and innovate.

Extractive political institutions support these economic institutions by cementing the power of those who benefit from the extraction.

They argue that extractive economic and political institutions, though their details vary under different circumstances, are always at the root of this failure.

In many cases the failure takes the form of a lack of sufficient economic activity, because politicians are only too happy to extract resources or quash any type of independent economic activity that threatens themselves and the economic elites.

And I was going through this literature for the second time, only this time around I was reading it against the backdrop of the recent release of the National Treasury’s economic strategy discussion document.

I found myself breathing a sigh of relief at the realisation that, despite our own misgivings and growing pains, we stand in direct contrast to why nations fail, if Acemoglu and Robinson’s contentions are anything to go by.

Why do nations fail? And is SA in danger of failing? | Citypress

We must go beyond institutions and interrogate the role of human beings within them.

city-press.news24.com

 

[Jopie Fourie]

Looking at the official international definition of a Failed State, South Africa already conform to all requirements and can officially be classified a Failed State. There is just a far left movement postponing the inevitable.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Looking at the official international definition of a Failed State, South Africa already conform to all requirements and can officially be classified a Failed State. There is just a far left movement postponing the inevitable.

Where is this official international definition? Would like to have a look at it.

 

[Jola]

???

The way I read that is that we fall exactly in the definition of nations that fail.

What am I not understanding ?

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

???

The way I read that is that we fall exactly in the definition of nations that fail.

What am I not understanding ?

Well, Jopie is implying that an official definition exists that is internationally accepted for defining a failed state, TB is sort of baiting him seeing as there kind of isn't any "one definition" that is accepted worldwide.

In the old, simplistic definition a state must have a "monopoly on legitimate use of force within its borders" or put simply a "monopoly on violence", by that definition we are already a failed state.

But the philosophers and historians have expanded on that to add more nuance and some think tanks have even attempted to quantify it with the use of an index: https://fragilestatesindex.org/

All things considered we are not a failed state quite yet, places like DRC are. Worth nothing that we are past the half way mark to a proper failed state i.e. the fragility index max score is 120 and we're at 71, any nation that hits 100 on that index is undoubtedly a failed state.

Now who says the ANC can't compete on the global stage!

 

[Jola]

Ok.

Personally I believe that we are very close to being a failed state, even if not quite there yet.

 

[rambo919]

You only have to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down, Adolf Hitler, June 1941.

There he was talking about russia but the ANC era SA has the same problem, a good kick can collapse the entire thing.

 

[Milano]

Pointless article. Take accountability for example. Yes there is none. The ANC cannot be held accountable since there are only two minority groups that push for accountability:

Some whites - they are immediately labeled racist for doing so.

And a minority of blacks - they are immediately labeled 'clever blacks' or 'uncle toms' for doing so.

The masses voted six successive corrupt ANC administrations into power over 25 years so accountability is clearly not on their agenda.

 

[ArtyLoop]

Short answer:
Greedy retards voted into power by retard voters

 

[Unhappy438]

But the philosophers and historians have expanded on that to add more nuance and some think tanks have even attempted to quantify it with the use of an index: https://fragilestatesindex.org/

That index seems way off, Venezuela is only at the warning stage, where South Africa has the same score as China and a better score than Russia and Israel.

 

[Whright]

Simple answer: Minority pay for the majority

 

[DreamKing]

Why do nations fail?


because the majority of the people are stupid.

 

[ForceFate]

Well, Jopie is implying that an official definition exists that is internationally accepted for defining a failed state, TB is sort of baiting him seeing as there kind of isn't any "one definition" that is accepted worldwide.

In the old, simplistic definition a state must have a "monopoly on legitimate use of force within its borders" or put simply a "monopoly on violence", by that definition we are already a failed state.

But the philosophers and historians have expanded on that to add more nuance and some think tanks have even attempted to quantify it with the use of an index: https://fragilestatesindex.org/

All things considered we are not a failed state quite yet, places like DRC are. Worth nothing that we are past the half way mark to a proper failed state i.e. the fragility index max score is 120 and we're at 71, any nation that hits 100 on that index is undoubtedly a failed state.

Now who says the ANC can't compete on the global stage!

This doesn't make sense.

 

[Tokolotshe]

This doesn't make sense.

Which part? Contradictory definitions? The old definition? The philosophical one? That we are not a failed state? (yet)? That the ANC can/can't compete?

Define what doesn't make sense. A vague denial in cases like this makes no sense.

Unless you want to play with matches ... ?

 

[grok]

You cannot elect a Zuma for president and expect you're going to succeed. He broke the country & let the Indian uncles do as they please, how do you expect to survive that? And yes not Zuma alone, we have a corruption problem, everything is being stolen. Good luck with moving ahead under those conditions..

 

[ForceFate]

Which part? Contradictory definitions? The old definition? The philosophical one? That we are not a failed state? (yet)? That the ANC can/can't compete?

Define what doesn't make sense. A vague denial in cases like this makes no sense.

Unless you want to play with matches ... ?

It's not a denial. The part I highlighted doesn't make sense to me. What does it mean? Would that not make US a failed state?

 

[Milano]

That index seems way off, Venezuela is only at the warning stage, where South Africa has the same score as China and a better score than Russia and Israel.

You are reading it incorrectly. SA is in the warning stage, Venezuela is in the alert stage.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Come on Jopie... Where is this official definition

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Come on Jopie... Where is this official definition

There's an academic debate on the precise definition as I'm sure you know but we can all recognise a failed state e.g. Zimbabwe.

 

[ToxicBunny]

There's an academic debate on the precise definition as I'm sure you know but we can all recognise a failed state e.g. Zimbabwe.

I don't care about the debate... He claimed to have the official definition...