[esjeon]

I think the caste system is what’s hampering social and economic progress in India (or at least partially).

It’s a sort of game theory stuff here. A structured class hierarchy makes it inherently more difficult for individuals to challenge the authority in power, even under the democratic government. The system imposes an additional risk of social backlash/punishment/retaliation for anyone who attempts to disrupt the established order, thus people have more reasons to stay back. This kind of risk is largely absent in more egalitarian/classless societies.

[rayiner]

But does it matter whether you can challenge authority or disrupt the established order? Because surely it’s even harder to do those things in China. And India’s people seems to me to be too little order, not too much.

[esjeon]

Yeah, you got a very good point there. Yes, it may seem very weird, but that’s because China was not playing the game.

The game that I suggested earlier assumes that (1) those in power seek to maximize their gains, (2) and such behavior is NOT aligned with social gains. So, basically, a never-ending arms race between the authority and the people. (check Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes if you’re interested)

However, China (and also South Korea) got a weird alignment in interests between the authoritarian government and the people — both of them somehow sought after national economic growth. Since their interests are already aligned, they didn’t play the game that I suggested above.

I think such alignment cannot be reproduced through games nor social interaction b/w powers — rather, it is more of a humane part of the history.

[_DeadFred_]

Isn't China's hukou a class/caste system?