Europe vs. China and India: The Surprising Roots of Liberty and Repression
How history and social structures shaped vastly different political outcomes.
Why did liberty emerge so robustly in Europe while remaining elusive in China and India?
Europe’s ‘marriage’ of Roman legal bureaucracy and Germanic tribal political participation created a unique balance of power. Roman law provided centralized administration and codified rights, while Germanic assemblies ensured bottom-up participation and limited elite domination. This fusion produced institutions like parliaments that held rulers accountable and widened the narrow corridor of liberty.
China, in contrast, developed a highly capable but despotic state. The imperial bureaucracy was vast and efficient but excluded society from meaningful participation. Without societal checks, the state often repressed dissent and limited freedom, illustrating that capacity alone does not guarantee liberty.
India’s social fabric, dominated by the caste system, fragmented society into rigid hierarchies. This fragmentation hindered unified political action and weakened state capacity. Social norms acted as cages, restricting liberty and opportunity for many.
These divergent paths highlight that liberty is not simply a matter of state strength but of the balance between state and society.
Understanding these historical experiences provides valuable lessons for contemporary efforts to build and protect liberty worldwide.
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