Interesting discussion, just one point: china isnt an autocracy and nor is vietnam, they're political oligarchies / technocracies. When the heads of state and government make serious mistakes and make the political elites unpopular with the people, they get demoted. I think they are generally less repressive and more flexible than autocracies and there's less danger of the level of civic collapse that can happen when autocrats die or lose power.
Interesting discussion, just one point: china isnt an autocracy and nor is vietnam, they're political oligarchies / technocracies. When the heads of state and government make serious mistakes and make the political elites unpopular with the people, they get demoted. I think they are generally less repressive and more flexible than autocracies and there's less danger of the level of civic collapse that can happen when autocrats die or lose power.