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obstinate resistance to the idea that nationalists may actually prefer
Communism
because
it is totalitarian-i.e., calculated to destroy all tra–
ditional obstacles to rapid modernization."
On this crucial issue of the political component of a development
program, Arnold is nonetheless inadequate. He rightly characterizes the
likes of Syngman Rhee as rather weak reeds and urges cooperation with
"libertarian revolutionaries." But what if, as in Korea, no such political
figures exist? "The modernization of a hitherto backward country sets
up stresses that reinforce the need for a strong central government,"
he observes. But doesn't this beg the question? Indonesia sorely needs
a strong central government, but it has not yet proved possible to bring
one into existence.
There is the further problem of a country such as Egypt which is
receptive to large-scale foreign assistance and has a strong government of
a sort but is woefully weak in the managerial-technician stratum, vexed
with corruption, and given to futile military adventures.
The West's vital weakness in the competition with the Soviet Union
in the undeveloped countries is its lack of a political apparatus. The
Russians can intervene in each country's domestic politics through the
local Communist parties without seeming to do so. The West, lacking
such an instrument, frequently appears clumsy and overt in its efforts
to give political direction to change.
It cannot be said that Arnold minimizes these problems even if he
cannot offer any clear guides to their solution. The main burden of his
argument is certainly persuasive. The West is not free simply to choose
between democratic and semi-totalitarian forces when these alternatives
are unreal. A Tito or an Ataturk or a Nasser may often prove the best
that is available. Nor can it afford to hold out for the existence of con–
ventional capitalist forms or for the banker's "sound" criteria of political
stability and orthodox fiscal policy before giving economic aid.
The problems innate in the approach he suggests are incalculably
difficult, but this difficulty does not vitiate the wisdom of his call for
Western assistance to "state capitalist" planning or the excellence of his
analysis of the fundamental forces at work in the world. The undevelop–
ed countries are in for a long ordeal. It is our ordeal as well.
William Shannon
