[hamandcheese]

> If there was really true 'progress', then you wouldn't need a one-party system that suppresses all dissent.

This makes no sense. It is possible for a totalitarian government which is threatened by dissent and concepts like "democracy" to also work in the interest of improving overall quality of life.

[viraptor]

If things work so well that everyone's quality or life is improved, why would there be dissent large enough to worry about.

It's the same category as: Why would a company with happy well paid workers be worried about unions and try to stop them forming.

[henrikschroder]

> If things work so well that everyone's quality or life is improved, why would there be dissent large enough to worry about.

Have you met people?

[GreenWatermelon]

Foreign state-actors love to sow discontent in enemy territories. It doesn't matter what they say to rile up the population and cause instability -- they'll just do it.