Why Nations Fail
by Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson
Finished an important and great read by Daron Acemoglu and
James Robinson titled Why Nations Fail. After observing societies over a period of
centuries, how do some of them succeed while others become steeped in poverty, illiteracy,
and brutal warfare? The authors approach
the work in great detail – country by country, issue by issue, even using ancient
maps to illustrate how the world was organized (by region) and how things have
changed (or stayed the same).
Even when a country is rich in soil, natural resources, and human power,
how does it fail? The authors offer
clear examples from historical rulers and other sources to explain how one
country thrives and another fails.
Examples within the book for success/failure include: how Egypt brought
down Mubarak; how institutions change through political conflict and shape the
present; policies making countries poor; Stalin; the Glorious Revolution; and
the age of Industrialization. One of
his points is: why aren’t countries more ‘inclusive’ in the development of
their communities? This is a very
important read, especially given the state of the US government today. As we all have heard over and over in our
lifetimes, history repeats itself, so why aren’t we using past experiences to
inform future success? This reminded me
of World History lessons. I really
enjoyed learning ‘why’ and thinking about what can I do as a citizen, through
my vote, to ensure democracy is thriving in the US. Great book with fifteen chapters that answer why
nations fail today. Read this one!
No comments:
Post a Comment