Grooming Leaders

Democracy supporters always brag the best leaders invariably come from elections. It might be true for certain condition. However, democratic America’s worsening economy casts doubt about the primacy of democratic system. On the contrary, single-party-ruled China’s rising power gives another insight.

People wonder how China can develop amazingly in light of its terrible Communist party-led system. The success recipe might hail from leadership preparation and succession.

Even though the next succession of China’s communist party secretary and president will take place in 2012 and 2013, respectively, people have already known that the next China’s president will be Xi Jinping, now-vice president.

The future leaders of China are the youngest persons selected in Politburo Standing Committee, the most powerful decision-making body. They would be in the inner circle of power controlling the country for years. During this apprenticeship, they would have learned day-to-day government activities. They become also fully acquainted with problems and how to solve them. Previously, President Hu Jintao was also groomed by the same kind of preparation for years before taking helm.

As a result China’s president is ready to weather the country’s problem caused by internal or external factors. This well-prepared president knows exactly what to do and how to do it. Recent world’s finance crisis reveals how China managed to overcome the crises much better than US.

Certainly, leadership preparation is not a single factor contributing to the success or not of managing crisis. The country’s system also plays a major role. The US’ checks and balances power clearly make things worse. The divided lawmakers hampered the president’s policies and measures. Thanks to its system, China’s experienced president along with experienced team can make decision decisively without opposition.

Singapore has shared the same idea with China on successive plan. They prepared the leaders from their age of 30s. After being educated in the top-notch universities all over the world and serving for years in government, they will have dexterity and know-how in running the government. That makes knowledge-based Singapore can adapt to every world’s situation and win the game.

Sports match much with the idea of grooming leaders from scratch rather than choosing them in the short-term contest such as in an election. In sports, the first thing is the candidate of top performers must have talent. And then the talent is honed through harsh training. And the right time to do this is in the childhood. The next step will be the test of the skill in the real game. The top performers arise from this process.

And it is imperative to acknowledge that there will be no false top-performers in sports. Michael Jordan got his stature because he could dribble the ball nimbly and shoot aptly. So did Maradona. A slew of money cannot buy this. Let say if you are a billionaire, you can’t hype for Bambang Pamungkas to be a recognized world class soccer. Meritocracy always prevails in sports.

Unfortunately, democratic system has considerable downside on the way of seizing the throne. If you have money or even charisma, despite lack of ability, you can still win the election. Money can buy political power.

Finally, it’s time to rethink democracy as the best system. The paragon of China and Singapore now inevitably should be taken into account. Even the staunch supporter of liberal democracy, Francis Fukuyama included, begin to admit that China’s system does better in pursuing the nation’s goal. Another path has been revealed.

* * * * *