Here's an interesting book I picked up for myself a few months ago, and hadn't gotten around to reading: " The J Curve ", by Ian Bremmer. The author posits that nations exist on a J shaped curve (imagine the J lying somewhat sideways, with the long side to the right). On the right you have stability vis more open and transparent societies (The US, most of Europe, India, et. al.). On the left side you have stability via authoritarianism (Cuba, Syria, North Korea, et. al.). Note that in this comparison, left/right refer to the "J", not to political positions.

The book explores the idea of how to get an authoritarian regime make the move through the instability at the bottom of the curve and over to the higher levels of stability available as they progress up the right side of the J. It's interesting reading - I'm not terribly far into the book yet, and certainly not far enough to make any kind of judgement on his policy prescriptions (and he does offer them). I will say this: it's a thought provoking book - worth reading, IMHO.

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