The Tension Between State Capacity and the Order of Democratisation: A Comparative Study of Political Transition in East Asia and Latin America

This study focuses on East Asia and Latin America, conducting an in-depth analysis of the intrinsic relationship between state capacity, the sequence of democratisation, and economic development. The findings reveal that East Asian countries have achieved rapid economic growth through strong state intervention capabilities, scientific economic planning, and targeted industrial policies. In contrast, Latin American countries have been plagued by political instability, institutional fragility, and challenges in social governance, resulting in weak state capacity and fluctuating economic development. In terms of democratisation, East Asian countries adopted a 'development first, democracy later' model, successfully laying the economic foundation for democratic transition. In contrast, Latin American countries' early democratic experiments were hindered by institutional deficiencies, and later democratisation efforts brought new economic challenges. There exists a complex tension between state capacity and the sequence of democratisation. East Asian countries achieved a smooth transition through coordination mechanisms, while Latin American countries fell into a vicious cycle of political and economic instability.