Democracy ought to get the better of autocracy

News: Although the USA has imposed a lot of sanctions, it seems it does not affect the motives of Russia.

Do countries fear sanctions?

Sanctions have been unable to enforce a regime change as has been exemplified in the case of Iran. So while the USA has implemented half-hearted sanctions, it is unlikely to force Russia to change its plan. Russia’s access to SWIFT and hydrocarbons was left intact in fear of global disruption.

Do autocracies work?

In a protracted battle, the Russian state is likely to sustain leadership because though there are elections, the opposition has been crushed by the Russian ruling regime. This is further exemplified by the rule in Iran and China. The example of China shows that autocracies may even be able to bend global rules. Chinese economic model uses economic feedback for a self-correction like democracies use elections.

However, the most pressing issue with an autocracy is its structurally low sensitivity to actual needs. It is governed by a command economy, not aware of the market and consumer needs. It also covers criticism and runs propaganda in the guise of information. This is why autocracies like the Soviet Union crumbled. Thus,  democracy can be seen as the best bet.

Source: This post is based on the article “Democracy ought to get the better of autocracy” published in the Livemint on 28th February 2022.