On Competitive Statecraft: Part I- The Home Front (How to Rebuild First-Rate States’ Economies & Politics; Incl. A Case Study)

Posted by s.s.salim: Geopolitical Analyst ⋅ December 27, 2011 ⋅ Leave a comment

Competitive Cities As a Model For National Growth

Before the end of the year, I will try to look at how any state can compete, locally, regionally and internationally, without resorting to old schools of thoughts, of violence and force.

First, I will discuss how to rebuild internal structures of the state; after all, it starts at micro-levels, before macro-competitions. The argument is simple, national governments should reintroduce the old practise of city-states self-public-management.

What Does City-States Autonomy Means?

It simply means, central/federal governments should encourage, at first, internal competitions between cities-to-cities, towns-to-towns, villages-to-villages, and then this tallies up into calculated overall performance for the entire regions. For example, East Midlands (UK region), or California (US State), here the central government will encourage and fund local regional and state governments to implement policies to guide fair competitions between inter-cities, towns and villages, against, first each others, then the neighbourly states (cities etc). In UK, for example, the East Midlands will see competition between Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, followed by those from within these authorities, of Leicester City against Narborough, or Melton Mowbray and so forth.

The Strategic Vision & Objective:

Is to encourage local economics, based on local comparative advantages, and the use and application of core local resources, for innovative and creative politics and economics. Also, to empower local communities, in having say, and power to govern own affairs, without constant central government directions and interferences.

These goals and visions will reduce greater pressures and stress of central governments’ public management, and encourage natural local creativities to flourish, innovations to excel, local talents to be retained, locally, and the localism to be again a source of pride.

The Business Practise Inspiration:

This is without a doubt a winning strategy for any state, or organisation, and it is inspired by those from the business practises, which encourages ‘self-sustaining’ and competitive strategic units within and without, from external competitors.

In short,

Any state, small, medium or big, able to utilise and integrate this model to fit within own local structures, systems and processes, will be able to;

(a) not only reap prosperity rewards, of economic growth and political stabilities (from maintaining at local levels, the young talent-pool, to increasing social/political mobility and direct participation).

(b) but also be ready to compete in the international arena with greater probabilities of successes, sustainable growth and even global leadership role.

I truly believe, as a strategist and global affairs analysts, that this strategy, based on the ancient order of city-states politics and economics, has the potential to change the fortunes of states, locally, regionally and internationally, without resorting to force and violence, but only through open competition.

A CASE STUDY:

In UK, the South is doing well than the North, and even the Midlands, why? Because the entire wealth of the nation is cramped into a tiny square-miles of Greater London, with other neighbouring counties reaping the rewards as a result of commuters living in this areas and working in London.

This is simply as the result of the lack of open competition, and diversity of resources, poor public and statecraft management. Unless the central government, implement policies to regenerate ‘beyond London’ areas and regions, to make these attractive for economic growth from foreign investments and local start-ups entrepreneurship, then the state will continue to fall behind new emerging countries, as we have already seen this week UK losses to Brazil in the top spot of wealthy nations, with India, Russia and others hot on our heels. It should be more on internal reconstruction and less own external international preoccupations and aids, charity begins at home.

Few Headlines, As Usual For Readers:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/dec/23/shrinking-services-signal-double-dip

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/27/japan-drops-ban-military-exports

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078749/Belgrano-fair-target-headed-Falklands-exclusion-zone-NOT-port-according-secret-dossier.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078612/Cold-War-secrets-cloak-dagger-guys-finally-revealed-nearly-45-years.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078559/Anonymous-hacks-thousands-credit-card-numbers-security-firm–gives-money-charity.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078822/Did-Nixon-gay-affair-Mafia-fixer-Forget-Watergate-A-new-book-claims-Americas-corrupt-President-hid-far-personal-scandal-.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204296804577122264202398078.html?mod=WSJEUROPE_hpp_MIDDLEFourthNews

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204844504577100421253005122.html?mod=WSJEUROPE_hpp_sections_business

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/growing-wealth-widens-distance-between-lawmakers-and-constituents/2011/12/05/gIQAR7D6IP_story.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/26/police-involved-shootings-on-the-rise/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/26/no-job-offers-blame-creative-resume-writing/