Bremmer's J Curve describes the relationship between a country's openness and its stability; focusing on the notion that while many countries are stable because they are open (the United States, France, Japan), others are stable because they are closed (North Korea, Cuba, Iraq under Saddam Hussein). According to Bremmer, a government's motivations differ dramatically depending on where they fall on the J curve.
The x-axis of the political J-Curve graph measures the "openness" (of freedom) of the State in question, and the y-axis measures the stability of that same state. It suggests that those states that are 'closed'/undemocratic/unfree (such as the Communistdictatorships of China and Cuba) are very stable; however, as one progresses right, along the x-axis, it is evident that stability (for relatively short period of time in the lengthy life of nations) decreases, creating a dip in the graph, until beginning to pick up again as the 'openness' of a state increases; at the other end of the graph to closed states are the open states of the West, such as the United States or the United Kingdom. Thus, a J-shaped curve is formed.
States can travel both forward (right) and backwards (left) along this J-curve, and so stability and openness are never secure. The J is steeper on the left hand side, as it is easier for a leader in an authoritarian state to create stability by closing the country than to build a civil society and establish accountable institutions; the curve is higher on the far right than left because states that prevail in opening their societies (Eastern Europe, for example) ultimately become more stable than authoritarian regimes.
Bremmer's entire curve can shift up or down depending on economic resources available to the government in question. Therefore, Saudi Arabia's relative stability at every point along the curve rises or falls depending on the price of oil; China's curve, meanwhile, analogously depends on the country's economic growth.
Quotes by the authoredit
The developed world should neither shelter nor militarily destabilize authoritarian regimes—unless those regimes represent an imminent threat to the national security of other states. Developed states should instead work to create the conditions most favorable for a closed regime’s safe passage through the least stable segment of the J curve — however and whenever the slide toward instability comes. And developed states should minimize the risk these states pose the rest of the world as their transition toward modernity begins.
Applicationsedit
David Agpar proposes The J Curve for an Iraq solution
Richard Beck on The J Curve and the Missional Church
The J Curve and Malaysia
The J Curve and Zimbabwe
Referencesedit
^"Books of the year 2006". The Economist. 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
Curve an Effective Tool in US Foreign Policy, by Cecil Johnson. Review in The Boston Globe. October 1, 2006.
December 14, 2023
curve, this, article, about, book, bremmer, other, uses, term, curve, understand, nations, rise, fall, simon, schuster, 2006, book, political, scientist, bremmer, named, book, year, 2006, economist, understand, nations, rise, fallauthorian, bremmercountryunite. This article is about the book by Ian Bremmer For other uses of the term see J curve The J Curve A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall Simon amp Schuster 2006 is a book by political scientist Ian Bremmer It was named a Book of the Year in 2006 by The Economist 1 The J Curve A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and FallAuthorIan BremmerCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenrePolitics International AffairsPublisherSimon amp SchusterPublication dateSeptember 12 2006Media typeHardbackPages320 p hardback edition ISBN0 7432 7471 7OCLC65341173Dewey Decimal320 3 22LC ClassJC489 B74 2006Bremmer s J Curve describes the relationship between a country s openness and its stability focusing on the notion that while many countries are stable because they are open the United States France Japan others are stable because they are closed North Korea Cuba Iraq under Saddam Hussein According to Bremmer a government s motivations differ dramatically depending on where they fall on the J curve Contents 1 J Curve model 2 Quotes by the author 3 Applications 4 References 5 External links 5 1 ReviewsJ Curve model edit nbsp The x axis of the political J Curve graph measures the openness of freedom of the State in question and the y axis measures the stability of that same state It suggests that those states that are closed undemocratic unfree such as the Communist dictatorships of China and Cuba are very stable however as one progresses right along the x axis it is evident that stability for relatively short period of time in the lengthy life of nations decreases creating a dip in the graph until beginning to pick up again as the openness of a state increases at the other end of the graph to closed states are the open states of the West such as the United States or the United Kingdom Thus a J shaped curve is formed States can travel both forward right and backwards left along this J curve and so stability and openness are never secure The J is steeper on the left hand side as it is easier for a leader in an authoritarian state to create stability by closing the country than to build a civil society and establish accountable institutions the curve is higher on the far right than left because states that prevail in opening their societies Eastern Europe for example ultimately become more stable than authoritarian regimes Bremmer s entire curve can shift up or down depending on economic resources available to the government in question Therefore Saudi Arabia s relative stability at every point along the curve rises or falls depending on the price of oil China s curve meanwhile analogously depends on the country s economic growth Quotes by the author editThe developed world should neither shelter nor militarily destabilize authoritarian regimes unless those regimes represent an imminent threat to the national security of other states Developed states should instead work to create the conditions most favorable for a closed regime s safe passage through the least stable segment of the J curve however and whenever the slide toward instability comes And developed states should minimize the risk these states pose the rest of the world as their transition toward modernity begins Applications editDavid Agpar proposes The J Curve for an Iraq solution Richard Beck on The J Curve and the Missional Church The J Curve and Malaysia The J Curve and ZimbabweReferences edit Books of the year 2006 The Economist 2006 12 06 Retrieved 2018 07 19 External links editJ Curve on The Daily Show The J Curve on BBC Newsnight Bookclub The J Curve Bremmer at the Council on Foreign Relations Bill Emmott and Fareed Zakaria on The J Curve in Slate magazine J Curve in the Washington PostReviews edit Curve an Effective Tool in US Foreign Policy by Cecil Johnson Review in The Boston Globe October 1 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The J Curve amp oldid 1120582499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
