“The problem for China is political. China is held together by money, not ideology. When there is an economic downturn and the money stops rolling in, not only will the banking system spasm, but the entire fabric of Chinese society will shudder. Loyalty in China is either bought or coerced. Without available money, only coercion remains. Business slowdowns can generally lead to instability because they lead to business failure and unemployment. In a country where poverty is endemic and unemployment widespread, the added pressure of an economic downturn will result in political instability.”

Source: The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century (2009), p. 96

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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George Friedman 25
American businessman and political scientist 1949

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