Yeah, it's complex. On one hand, you could argue that as a person from a democratic country, going to visit (or even live and work in) these authoritarian nations is a small way of showing the people who live there that there is another way. But on the other hand, perhaps you're just reinforcing the message of the regime, which is that democratic countries aren't really all that different, because if people from democracies freely choose to come spend their time in an autocracy, what's so great about democracy anyway?
And, of course, all the extremely online folks in the US or Canada who whine about how their own government is authoritarian ("wokeness features Maoist struggle sessions and is basically a rebranded Cultural Revolution", "rebranded Nazis are in control of the entire government and will stop at nothing to punish Black and Brown bodies") seem somewhat out-of-touch with what actual authoritarianism looks like. A good hint is that they can freely spout their opinions on Twitter and nobody disappears them the next day.
Meanwhile they all keep buying stuff from the actual authoritarian countries...
I mean, there's degrees of shittiness, i get it. And i do understand realpolitik, and that we can't close off all conversation with these absolutely shitty regimes. That's not a solution either. But i feel like sometimes there is a bit of a lack of awareness in the democratic world - and especially the wealthier (G20) corner of it. I don't know what the solution is. But i do know that if i have the choice between Team America: World Police and the spread of Socialism With Chinese Characteristics, i'm choosing the guys with the M4s and the NYT.
And, of course, all the extremely online folks in the US or Canada who whine about how their own government is authoritarian ("wokeness features Maoist struggle sessions and is basically a rebranded Cultural Revolution", "rebranded Nazis are in control of the entire government and will stop at nothing to punish Black and Brown bodies") seem somewhat out-of-touch with what actual authoritarianism looks like. A good hint is that they can freely spout their opinions on Twitter and nobody disappears them the next day.
Meanwhile they all keep buying stuff from the actual authoritarian countries...
I mean, there's degrees of shittiness, i get it. And i do understand realpolitik, and that we can't close off all conversation with these absolutely shitty regimes. That's not a solution either. But i feel like sometimes there is a bit of a lack of awareness in the democratic world - and especially the wealthier (G20) corner of it. I don't know what the solution is. But i do know that if i have the choice between Team America: World Police and the spread of Socialism With Chinese Characteristics, i'm choosing the guys with the M4s and the NYT.
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