1. Juan Cole on Tunisia. And is Jordan next?
2. Via Chris F. Masse, Peter Thiel loves New Zealand.
3. Hugo Mercier on Bourgeois Dignity.
4. Harvey Mansfield on many topics, always a bracing read.
Assorted links
Previous post: Mandates don’t stay modest, a continuing series
Next post: Sumner and Krugman on zero MP workers
so,in the better run countries , governments fail down first
Point foe Mesquita
#4: "But in fact there are many features of American society that aren’t just all Western liberal democracy. For example, the amount of one man rule is really quite amazing. …. right at the beginning, the idea of a strong, single executive took hold in the Constitutional Convention". I think the expression he is searching for to describe the US political system is "elective monarchy".
In a comment below Mercier's review, McCloskey uses the phrase "to commit the Jared Diamond Fallacy". Hadn't heard of that and not sure it qualifies as a fallacy. I also remember a reference to Steve Pinker from McCloskey's review of "Farewell to Alms", but forget how he's relevant to any of the issues.
The Mansfied page wasn't loading. I'm undecided about "bracing", but an adjective I would reject is "worthwhile".
1– Tunisia is due south of Germany. When did the definition of "Middle East" expand to mean "every Islamic country (plus Israel) west of India"?
As a Kiwi, I am obliged to say that NZ is a great place to live.
But libertarian it aint. It is more like a South Pacific pocket of northern Europe. The population expects the state to act as a benevolent uncle, bailing them out whenever life gets tough (and sometimes when it doesn't).
If Mr Thiel thinks he can change this, he is headed for disappointment.
Comments on this entry are closed.