[FelixP]

I would also point out that the author conflate two tightly-coupled but distinct spheres - the political and the economic. China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have all been massively successful because they acted aggressively in the political realm to foster growth and development (with little to no regard for Democratic norms). Conversely, their economic systems were and are fairly liberal (China being both the least developed of these as well as the biggest laggard on this front). Chinese citizens may not be politically empowered, but it is far easier to set up a company, hire and fire, etc. in Shanghai than in New York.

[ahartmetz]

Japan and South Korea fostered growth and development with little to no regard for democratic norms?

I mean yeah, their democracies look a bit strange to Westerners, what with Japan being governed by mostly one party and South Korea being a fairly new democracy... But what specifically do you mean?