[ziftface]

To add to this, funding autocratic governments in these countries with billions in "aid" also delays foreign progress towards democracy.

[rayiner]

I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Democracy follows economic development, of the other way around. America and European countries all became more democratic after they became rich. Some autocratic governments can hinder economic development. Others, like in China and now Bangladesh, can be pretty competent about it.

[blackoil]

Yep, we all can see how democratic Saudi has become.

[JamesBarney]

Does it? By economic development do you mean relative to other countries or in absolute terms? The US was pretty democratic way before we were anywhere close to rich my 2023 standards.