Democracy and prosperity (part 2)
shifted from the shadow of the Great Depression into the transformative New Deal era of development and prosperity. What this suggests is that the democratic capital of the public leads to policies centred around their overall wants and needs. The case study of post-Depression America also exemplifies how this people-government relationship allows the state to correct itself during crises, as decisions can be made in accordance with the aggregated public opinion. Perhaps without such popular input, the government would not be able to calibrate effective policies within an efficient time frame, undermining economic stability. Moreover, democracies normally maintain more robust systems of accountability, namely the judiciary, as a means of preventing institutional corruption. The principle of democracy involves delegating power not only to the people, but also to the judicial branch, as a way of keeping checks and balances on the state’s exercise of power. Without a cohesive system of accountability, public funds and resources, which could be allocated towards genuine endeavours, may instead be siphoned off by a corrupt executive. Therefore, the need for a legal system which holds all responsible, even those within the government, is paramount in upholding transparency and supporting the collective, democratic goal of economic prosperity. The importance of the rule of law can be seen most sharply when it has ceased to apply, as in the case of the state capture of South Africa under Jacob Zuma. With political positions being effectively sold off to the Guptas, the country entered a shadowy period of corruption in which the elite used the state to serve its own interests, to the detriment of the general population. The political takeover eroded investor confidence exacerbated social inequality and hindered economic growth. It was only through the Zondo Commission of Inquiry in 2018, ordered by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, that the surreptitious capture of the state under Zuma was investigated. The Zondo Commission found that Zuma had violated the constitution, and he was consequently imprisoned in 2021 for contempt of court. This clearly displays how institutional resilience is vital in preserving the best interests of the people and state overall, promoting utilitarian economic prosperity and avoiding an inequitable wealth bubble of the country’s elite. Indeed, the Zondo Commission, which fundamentally restored the integrity of the state, would have never been established if not for the autonomy of the court as an element of South Africa’s democratic system. However, this depiction of democracy may be perceived as rather quixotic. In actual fact, a notable portion of supposed democracies are foundationally deprived of genuine institutions and leadership: these are known as quasi-democracies. And so, while democratic principles are supposed to deter corruption, in many cases such principles only exist de jure and, de facto , are merely part of a facade designed to evade international and civil scrutiny. Indeed, the various flaws of democracy invite a comparison with its antithesis: autocracy. While there are obvious moral and civil qualms with the autocratic model – control over people and their rights, suppression of dissent –, it bears many unique benefits when isolated in terms of pursuing economic prosperity. Autocracies, in contrast to the short-termism inherent in democracies, can cultivate stronger long-term economic plans. In the absence of elections, let alone frequent elections, a policy implemented by an autocratic leader can be continued across a large timescale. Since long-term economic plans are more likely to have a tangible effect than volatile policies that are frequently interrupted by changes in government, autocracies can facilitate meaningful economic growth far more certainly. In essence, autocracies can exchange the political rights of citizens for a pledge towards more certain economic
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