Most of the chatter about the failures of liberal democracy revolve around the economic problems–mostly slow growth and increased inequality–of the past few decades. I have previously dismissed GDP growth as the essence of our system, but let’s take the criticism seriously. Does it hold water?
The obvious question is, compared to what? Hitler’s military Keynesianism, which ultimately resulted in World War II? Spain’s stagnation under Franco? The USSR? Give me a break.
The only possible response is today’s China, which involved the application of tactics used by Japan and South Korea to a nation with a much larger market. Economic growth in China has slowed significantly and is increasingly being used to benefit the state rather than the population. If that’s all you have to support authoritarianism over liberal democracy, you had better think again.