FACEBOOK NOTE PLS PASS

To Clueless Students: Why China, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam etc. are economically ahead of us...
by David Michael San Juan on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 9:37pm

It's not because Singapore is ruled by bubble-gum haters. It's not because South Korea recently embraced free trade. It's not because Malaysia is ruled by just one party for the past decades. It's not only because Brunei has a small population. It's not because workers in China now work 24/7 in some shops.



It's very simple: China, South Korea, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam achieved industrialization through self-reliance and little foreign help.



Secondly, at least during the phase of industrialization, their respective government controls and manages all big businesses.



Thus, in a matter of decades, they were able to locally build cars, computers, robots, railways etc. while the Philippines doesn't even have a needle factory!



In China, today's top 2 economy, the government still owns at least 40% of business enterprises, and of course, we all know that Chinese authorities maintain tight control over private firms.



With the exception of Singapore, these countries succeeded in implementing land reform thereby economically empowering the then-peasant majority in their countries.



Singapore didn't need land reform because it is a very small state. Using its territory for agriculture won't be feasible. Thus, its brilliant leaders focused on developing it as a business hub, ala-Hong Kong during the British colonial era. Just the same, to industrialize Singapore even without an agricultural base, Lee Kuan Yew attracted foreign investment through free trade. Singapore is peculiar because it won't thrive without free trade. As a small city state, it relies on external trade. Thus, the Philippines CAN'T APPLY the Singaporean model.



Meanwhile, China, South Korea etc. provide us with a very vital lesson in industrialization: it is impossible to industrialize without a strong agricultural base in a country of peasants. By strong agricultural base, we mean peasants who earn enough to sustain domestic demand for locally-produced products.



Let's take a look at South Korea. South Korea was and still is a country of peasants (MIND YOU, RICH peasants). Why? Walden Bello explained this in an article. During the Korean War, North Koreans, who of course are communists who hate landlords and support land redistribution, were able to penetrate large tracts of South Korean territory...so to gain support from SoKor peasants, the NoKor communists distributed lands to SoKor peasants (SoKor landlords escaped SoKor because they're afraid of NoKor communists; SoKor peasants are not afraid of anything just like peasants everywhere...when you're a peasant, you know anything is possible). When the Korean War was halted, the conservative government in SoKor retained land reform (e.g. they allowed SoKor peasants to own the land that NoKor communists distributed). Why? The SoKor government knew that to be at par or better than NoKor, it needs to industrialize and the only way to industrialize is to strengthen agriculture so that peasants who compose the majority will be able to buy products that local factories will produce.



Of course, in China and Vietnam, land reform was made possible through a socialist revolution. China was able to fastrack industrialization because of its huge labor force. Vietnam's industrialization was delayed due to the US war of aggression against the Vietnamese people (whole forests where poisoned, whole villages were massacred, ala-Maguindanao, mind you). Just the same, the people-supported government monopoly on business enabled Vietnam to outpace the Philippines! (remember that in the 1960s, the Philippines is 2nd to Japan and China's still in a chaotic situation)



In Brunei, there are no haciendas. Not even during the British occupation. Brunei is also unique because of its tiny population and huge oil resource. Just the same, the government controls all big businesses in Brunei. That's why there's no income tax in Brunei: the government is so rich.



These countries provide lessons for the Philippines.

Number 1: Natural resources can be utilized for our people's benefit

Number 2: Huge population is not a problem; it can even be an advantage

Number 3: Strong government control over big business is needed to make sure that profits will be used for the country's welfare

Number 4: Land reform is necessary for industrialization (except for natural-resource poor and small states like Singapore)



So, what are we waiting for? Urge Noynoy to proceed with land reform and nationalist industrialization!

At least in terms of speed and effectiveness, socialism is the best system to implement these two twin solutions. Of course, there are other ways...



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8 people like this.
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Andoy Blanco Do we have to urge the govt? or the people can take over the govt and do it themselves!
15 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Andoy, well, that's another option...
15 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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Andoy Blanco he he he . . . we're not yet in socialism so my first comment is a suggestion since you imply that there are other ways . . .
15 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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David Michael San Juan precisely...Just the same, while this might be considered as a heresy...hahah...I believe socialism can be achieved through the parliamentary way, ala-Bolivia or -Venezuela...
15 hours ago · Like
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Mio Porto Naiinggit ako sa Vietnam. They got fucked up by the US, napalm, Agent Orange, Hueys, GIs, tanks and their own people.

But look at them now.
14 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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Carlo Cielo
I wouldn't put Singapore up there as a good example. Much less of socialism. That's almost a reason why the Arroyo/Aquino platform BANAL. Almost.

Singapore is an example of why corporatism is such a devastating fail.

* Kaya nagkanda-letse a...See More
14 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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David Michael San Juan Carlo, yeah, as I've said, the Singaporean model can't work for us. Also, while I myself am I committed socialist, I just point out that there are other ways to industrialize...
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Precisely, Carlo. Singapore's model won't work here because we're an archipelago with an agricultural base
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Singapore is still a good example in terms of industrialization through government control (initially)
14 hours ago · Like
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Mio Porto When I watch Vietnam war movies or kill NVA and Viet Cong in video games, hindi pa rin ako makakapaniwala na mas mayaman pa sila kesa sa atin ngayon.

I think an armed revolution is in order.
14 hours ago · Like
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Carlo Cielo
Lahat ng polisiya roon, me bayad. Haha !
Singapore is a Fine City indeed. Fine-based socialism, lawl.
Not only can it work for us, it SHOULDN'T work for us.
Neo-colonialism ang moda niyan, sa paraan kung saan yung bansa e willing. Willing at...See More
14 hours ago · Like
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Carlo Cielo Dude, saying Singapore is a good example in terms of industrialization is like saying Gloria is a good example of an economist. Come on :)
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Mio, correct answer. hahah.
14 hours ago · Like
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Mio Porto ‎"China was able to fastrack industrialization because of its huge labor force"

Maraming namatay at nakulong. Just sayin'.
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Carlo, while their system can't work for us, what I point out is that they achieved industrialization...yes, it is not that people-centered as in former socialist states, BUT look at them, they can feed their citizens, my golly, they employ thousands of foreigners, Filipinos included. Yeah, Singapore's thriving by becoming a business hub of filthy capitalists...well, that's the only way for them because they're small
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Gloria is of course a bad economist because she's not a nationalist
14 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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Carlo Cielo
‎" The belief that by thinking about things, by visualizing them, by wanting them, we can make them happen is magical thinking...This childish belief discredits legitimate concerns and anxieties. It exacerbates despair and passivity. It fos...See More
14 hours ago · Like
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Carlo Cielo
David, they 'achieved industrialization' because they sold out their lands and properties to multinationals. Most of the corporations their aren't their corporations; they are the corporations of other countries. The only corporations they ...See More
14 hours ago · Like
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Carlo Cielo Tsaka kung ganyan na lang, ba't hindi na lang tayo maging mala-South Korea o Japan.
14 hours ago · Like
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Mio Porto Or Malaysia.
14 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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Carlo Cielo Baket ? Nag-eemploy din tayo ng mga Intsik noon, di ba ? Sakop nga lang tayo ng mga Kastila't Amerikano nun, so heheheh
14 hours ago · Like
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Carlo Cielo
‎" Corporate employees, like everyone else, are gripped by personal dilemmas, anxieties and troubles. They are not permitted, however, to ask whether the problem is the corporate structure and the corporate state. If they are not happy, the...See More
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Carlo, hahah. Bigo ang armed insurrection movements sa Bolivarian states...Napangibabawan nila ang cultural imperialism kaya nagawa ng masa roon na makapagpanalo ng matinong kandidatong sosyalista
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Kalokohan ang sinabi ni Hedges
14 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan Hinggil sa Singapore, maliwanag sa artikulo ko kung anong bansa ang higit kong pinapaburan bilang modelo...Malinaw na hindi Singapore kasi nilinaw ko na di applicable sa tin ang modelo nila...To sum it up, ipinuta ng singapore ang sarili niya dahil wala siyang ibang resource. at kapuri-puri un dahil mas maliit ang income gap ng anak-dalita at mayaman doon...at mayorya roo'y nakakakain
14 hours ago · Like
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Noel Tanalgo Hingco sir, you forgot Taiwan... I heard their agriculture is strong despite being frequently battered by tropical cyclones between Taiwan and Batanes.
13 hours ago · Like
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David Michael San Juan yeah, Taiwan must be included...Actually, my socialist subconscious is intefering...hahah, I mean, I still consider Taiwan as a Chinese province...
13 hours ago · Like
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Noel Tanalgo Hingco naaliw lang ako sa pinagyayabang nilang agriculture sa isang tv show pero at the same time inaamin nila na madalas bumagyo sa kanila
13 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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Bridge Cosme Dang-ay oh wow! i just read a factual updated modern world history here... complete with analytical discourses! Amen to you all! reposted po, david... thanks!
11 hours ago · Like