Disappearing dictatorships - could North Korea follow?

[Gerald]

The total control by North Korea's leaders ensures that news of the unrest in the Arab world is not likely to reach their citizens.

It has swept across the other side of the world, starting on 17 December when an angry, unemployed man set fire to himself after police stopped him selling vegetables on the streets.

First Tunisia. Then Egypt. And Iran, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain, Algeria, Morocco and now - most bloodily, it is feared - Libya. Revolution in some; protests or civil uprisings in others.

Characteristics common to many of those countries include autocratic leaders who have held power for decades; political repression; and the harsh economic reality for millions of people who must feed a family with either no job or one that pays very little, while a privileged elite lives in luxury.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12558184

Note: 24 February 2011 Last updated at 00:03 GMT

[Platapus]

When KJI passes the government of North Korea will change, but it won't suddenly change into a peaches and cream "democracy". But it will change and change for the better. Even if it is in baby steps.

[Castout]

Umm most people don't realize is that the evolutions that's happening in these Arab states are possible because the people are not segmented. Either one enjoys the benefit of the regime by being a crony or you're just another citizens. They also share strong national and or racial identity.

I'd bet for a war, limited or otherwise in Korea before F-35s are deployed in numbers in South Korea. North Koreans aren't going to start any evolution. To me the regime is placing themselves as a floodgate of nuclear weapon technology and they are far more dangerous than Iran. Rather than playing brinkmanship it's better for the North Korean leaders to share much more of the economic benefits of their neighbors China(China is a huge growing market in itself) and or even South Korea. At least if you're not free you enjoy prosperity.

[the_tyrant]

Singapore will become democratic before North Korea
Think about it, Singapore is mainly a westernized country, while North Korea is a brain-washed country

anyways, that just my pure speculation

[Castout]

Singapore will become democratic before North Korea
Think about it, Singapore is mainly a westernized country, while North Korea is a brain-washed country

anyways, that just my pure speculation

Nah large portion of population in Singapore now consists of immigrants.

The very able Singaporean mostly decide to leave for good and those who stay are either broken or supporting the government blindly to get benefits or just plain ignorant and stupid not to care about anything.

The older population are the ones that actually loyal to the Lee Kuan Yew family. Dissents are growing in younger population but the regime is very harsh in stifling dissent even tracking and harassing domestic online dissidents.

Singapore is not western by all standards but a facade. Now their leadership are saying about basing their leadership on Confucianism or Asian values. . . . . .just as what have been said by Chinese and North Korea leadership as well but whatever Confucianism is they are reduced to not angering the Emperor in Singapore. Sigh :shifty:.

I'm guessing the Lee Kuan Yew family wealth to be in the range of 5-15 billion US dollars EXCLUDING the hundreds of billion of dollars of state sovereign fund they control through 2 state investment corporations which the current Prime Minister son of Lee Kuan Yew has now openly said that one of which as not being a state corporation at all meaning they are now private. A well known dissident, Gopalan Nair wrote that their wealth to be in the range of 80 billion dollars making them the richest people on the planet.

But Americans and Europeans should feel safe in Singapore as they are the kind of people who will try to appease the strong and able. But if you come from countries that can't care less about their citizens it's probably best if you just find another place especially to raise children in. It's like sharing your house with a wild beast you never know when or why it will come after you. These people are able to do just about anything in the island even in public and nobody in Singapore is going to raise a hand to even question them.

[the_tyrant]

Nah large portion of population in Singapore now consists of immigrants.

The very able Singaporean mostly decide to leave for good and those who stay are either broken or supporting the government blindly to get benefits.

The older population are the ones that actually loyal to the Lee Kuan Yew family. Dissents are growing in younger population but the regime is very harsh in stifling dissent even tracking and harassing domestic online dissidents.

Singapore is not western by all standards but a facade. Now their leadership are saying about basing their leadership on Confucianism or Asian values. . . . . .just as what have been said by Chinese and North Korea leadership as well but whatever Confucianism is they are reduced to not angering the Emperor in Singapore. Sigh :shifty:.

I'm guessing the Lee Kuan Yew family wealth to be in range of 5-15 billion US dollars EXCLUDING the hundreds of billion of dollars of state sovereign fund they control through state investment corporation which the current Prime Minister son of Lee Kuan Yew has now openly said that one of which as not being a state corporation at all meaning they are now private. A well known dissident, Gopalan Nair wrote that their wealth to be in the range of 80 billion dollars making them the richest people on the planet.

:yawn:I've memorized my fair share of Confucian classics

anyways, there used to be time when commie leaders had a picture of themselves on the cover of text books
http://www.guoxuejiaoyu.com/attachments/2009/12/103_20091228155336186Hh.jpg

Chinese political science class, the most boring class ever

[Castout]

:yawn:I've memorized my fair share of Confucian classics

anyways, there used to be time when commie leaders had a picture of themselves on the cover of text books
http://www.guoxuejiaoyu.com/attachments/2009/12/103_20091228155336186Hh.jpg

Chinese political science class, the most boring class ever

You seem to turn out pretty okay :O:

[TLAM Strike]

:yawn:I've memorized my fair share of Confucian classics

anyways, there used to be time when commie leaders had a picture of themselves on the cover of text books
http://www.guoxuejiaoyu.com/attachments/2009/12/103_20091228155336186Hh.jpg

Chinese political science class, the most boring class ever

I seem to recall pictures of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln on one of my high school text books... that book was for american history though...

[the_tyrant]

I seem to recall pictures of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln on one of my high school text books... that book was for american history though...

but this book is for Chinese literature

[nikimcbee]

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/sirwinpb/north-korea-5.jpg

You Vendor are no funny! The great leader....forever!

[Castout]

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/sirwinpb/north-korea-5.jpg

You Vendor are no funny! The great leader....forever!

That's actually . . . . .FUNNY!

:har:

[Gerald]

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/sirwinpb/north-korea-5.jpg

You Vendor are no funny! The great leader....forever! Beware that I do not "arresting" you, :haha:

[Skybird]

Very big difference between NK and the Arab riot states: in NK people have no access to media and internet and have no clue of the world beyond their borders.

[Gerald]

One day, will probably change it but for the need for the internal forces that might "disturb" the system

[Catfish]

If you see his every day, generation for generation ... :

http://cavemancircus.com/2010/03/05/north-korean-propaganda/

It's not as "sublime" as WW1, II or cold war propaganda, but if you do not hear anything else all the time ?

[Gerald]

If you see his every day, generation for generation ... :

http://cavemancircus.com/2010/03/05/north-korean-propaganda/

It's not as "sublime" as WW1, II or cold war propaganda, but if you do not hear anything else all the time ? Everything goes to a point, and the NK know it

[Capt. Morgan]

Very big difference between NK and the Arab riot states: in NK people have no access to media and internet and have no clue of the world beyond their borders.

-----------========== :sign_yeah:==========-----------

The citizens of North Korea have no idea, what so ever, that this revolution in the Muslim world is happening. They believe that the famine and poverty that they experience is much worse everywhere else in the outside world, and that their government is doing a great job.

[Takeda Shingen]

-----------========== :sign_yeah:==========-----------

The citizens of North Korea have no idea, what so ever, that this revolution in the Muslim world is happening. They believe that the famine and poverty that they experience is much worse everywhere else in the outside world, and that their government is doing a great job.

Yes. The generally are made to believe that just about everyone lives as they do.

[August]

Yes. The generally are made to believe that just about everyone lives as they do.

I read somewhere that totalitarian regimes like NK never actually crumble until they ease up on their subjects. Apparently there are minimum standards of living and education required for successful revolution.