Question 1
Both China and India are on the way to becoming world-renowned economies (Bosworth & Collins 45-66). One of the reasons for the economy growth is that private firms are now allowed to practice in markets in which they were previously barred. The move attracted foreign investors to these countries spurring the growth currently seen in the countries. The growth seen in China also results from the good relations between the governments and the private businesses as well as investors.
Another reason that the two nations have experienced tremendous economic growth is the fact that they have large markets for their products and services, and still enjoy low-cost labor pools(Bosworth & Collins 45-66). Therefore, the industries targeting the vast market in these countries benefit greatly from the vastness of the market; that promote the businesses to making more profits and even, cause the economies to grow as they have.
Governance in both countries has made it easy exploit the countries’ markets and resources. Before 1990, India was among the world’s poorest nations. However, with government reforms and changes the country’s economy began blossoming. China on another hand, moved from centrally planned economy to one that is market oriented in the 1970s. India’s growth, on the other hand, is attributed to the government capitalizing on its educated population, who are quite few when compared to the country’s population (Bosworth & Collins 45-66).
Question 2
For a long time now, Russia has been on a crossroad on whether it is in the East or the West.. However, Russia’ style of government and leadership is more linked to the East. For example, like China, Russia was at one point a communist country.
Additionally, the country’s leadership, like the Eastern Countries, attempts to wield a lot of control over its population while the Western countries regard themselves as democratic. In the West, one is free to criticize the government. Russia however, provides limits on what criticism levels are allowed.
Question 3
According to Nederveen & Pieterse (77) political cultures help explain the formation of governments, and what makes a country unique. The presence of democracies around the world points to a political culture where people are empowered and given the chance to have a say in the affairs of their country, particularly who rules them. Elections are conducted as the law stipulates. This culture is known as the Participant Political Culture.
There is the Parochial Political Culture, practiced in countries such as Mexico (Nederveen & Pieterse 81). In such a culture, the citizens are not informed on their government activities and they also, do not take an interest in the countries political process. Such countries are usually undeveloped when compared to Participant Political Culture such as the UK or the USA.
Finally, there is also the subject political culture prevalent in European countries such as Italy and Germany. Citizens are not as informed as their counterparts in the UK but are more informed than those under parochial culture. They occasionally participate in political processes such as voting for some government personnel.
Question 4
Mexico has suffered same problems for quite a long time from criminal activities such as corruption. The government needs to address corruption first so that everything else can fall into place. Peddlers and known criminals buy freedom by paying protectors, who are in the government. Therefore, the government should first eradicate corruption and crime if it to change for the better.
Brazil, on the other hand, is dealing with inflation and fiscal deficit, all caused by poor governance. Unemployment has also risen. The primary reason for that is corruption in high levels of the government, and officials who are keen to enrich themselves at the expense of the population. Therefore, winning the war against corruption will better the situation.
Question 5
France, USA, UK and Germany are successful countries. That is because their governments are all geared towards success and shun corrupt practices or even, misuse of power (Nafziger 72). Additionally, the ruling classes are youthful, qualified and able, and do not cling to power unlike some rulers in developing countries.
Also, the populations in these countries are empowered through education. Curriculums are designed in such a way that they produce graduates needed by the job market, hence low unemployment statistics.
Also, these countries enjoy industrial and manufacturing capacities that have significantly influenced their success. These countries enjoy good health, and export medicine as well as medical personnel and other specialists, in different fields to other nations. Japan, like these countries also has an able government, which is geared towards developing. In fact, the state is arguably the world’s manufacturing and economic power. Therefore, Japan should be on the list of the most prosperous countries, even though it is an Eastern power, while the others are Western countries.
Works Cited
Barry Boswoth, Susan M. Collins. "Accounting for growth: comparing China and India." The Journal of economic perspectives 22.1 (2008): 45-66.
Nafziger, E Wayne. Economic Development. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
