--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: BOTSWANA, CHINA, and the U.S. South, just…" description: "\"“BOTSWANA, CHINA, and the U.S. South, just like the Glorious Revolution in England, the French Revolution, and the Meiji Restoration in Japan, are vivi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/daron-acemo-lu-4415_french-revolution_botswana-china-and-the-u-s-south-just-li_2803658.jpg" --- # BOTSWANA, CHINA, and the U.S. South, just like the… ![“BOTSWANA, CHINA, and the U.S. South, just like the Glorious Revolution in England, the French Revolution, and the Meiji Restoration in Japan, are vivid illustrations that history is not destiny. Despite the vicious circle, extractive institutions can be replaced by inclusive ones. But it is…” quote by Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/daron-acemo-lu-4415_french-revolution_botswana-china-and-the-u-s-south-just-li_2803658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/daron-acemo-lu-4415_french-revolution_botswana-china-and-the-u-s-south-just-li_2803658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/daron-acemo-lu-4415_french-revolution_botswana-china-and-the-u-s-south-just-li_2803658.jpg) > ““BOTSWANA, CHINA, and the U.S. South, just like the Glorious Revolution in England, the French Revolution, and the Meiji Restoration in Japan, are vivid illustrations that history is not destiny. Despite the vicious circle, extractive institutions can be replaced by inclusive ones. But it is neither automatic nor easy. A confluence of factors, in particular a critical juncture coupled with a broad coalition of those pushing for reform or other propitious existing institutions, is often necessary for a nation to make strides toward more inclusive institutions. In addition some luck is key, because history always unfolds in a contingent way.”” [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History shows institutions can shift from exclusive to inclusive, but it requires critical moments, coalitions, and luck. **In simple terms:** Institutions can change, but not easily. Key Takeaway Support reforms during pivotal times. Themes history institutions reform Mood analytical optimistic Type historical political When to use this quote - political transitions - economic development - social movements Key Concepts inclusive vs exclusive systems critical junctures Questions to Reflect On - What factors trigger institutional change? - How can luck be leveraged? A Different Perspective May underplay agency of individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [French revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french-revolution/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) ## Related quotes > [“The synergies between extractive economic and political institutions create a vicious circle, where extractive institutions, once in place, tend to persist. Similarly, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/the-synergies-between-extractive-economic-and-political-institutions/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“WE SAW HOW INCLUSIVE economic and political institutions emerge. But why do they persist over time? The history of the Black Act and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/we-saw-how-inclusive-economic-and-political-institutions-emerge-but/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Inclusive economic and political institutions do not emerge by themselves. They are often the outcome of significant conflict between elites resisting economic growth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/inclusive-economic-and-political-institutions-do-not-emerge-by/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Our theory has attempted to achieve this by operating on two levels. The first is the distinction between extractive and inclusive economic and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/our-theory-has-attempted-to-achieve-this-by-operating-on-two-levels/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“The process of economic growth and the inclusive institutions upon which it is based create losers as well as winners in the political arena…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/the-process-of-economic-growth-and-the-inclusive-institutions-upon/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Because elites dominating extractive institutions fear creative destruction, they will resist it, and any growth that germinates under extractive institutions will be ultimately short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/because-elites-dominating-extractive-institutions-fear-creative/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Lack of creative destruction and innovation is not the only reason why there are severe limits to growth under extractive institutions. The history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/lack-of-creative-destruction-and-innovation-is-not-the-only-reason/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“The most important lesson is that extractive institutions cannot generate sustained technological change for two reasons: the lack of economic incentives and resistance by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/the-most-important-lesson-is-that-extractive-institutions-cannot/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Extractive institutions are so common in history because they have a powerful logic: they can generate some limited prosperity while at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/extractive-institutions-are-so-common-in-history-because-they-have-a/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Though the extractive institutions that the Mayas created produced sufficient wealth for the cities to flourish and the elite to become wealthy and generate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/though-the-extractive-institutions-that-the-mayas-created-produced/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“While part of the appeal of authoritarian growth comes as a reaction to the Washington consensus, perhaps its greater charm—certainly to the rulers presiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/while-part-of-the-appeal-of-authoritarian-growth-comes-as-a-reaction/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“NATIONS FAIL TODAY because their extractive economic institutions do not create the incentives needed for people to save, invest, and innovate. Extractive political institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/nations-fail-today-because-their-extractive-economic-institutions-do/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“We call such institutions, which have opposite properties to those we call inclusive, extractive economic institutions—extractive because such institutions are designed to extract incomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/we-call-such-institutions-which-have-opposite-properties-to-those-we/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“World inequality today exists because during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries some nations were able to take advantage of the Industrial Revolution and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/world-inequality-today-exists-because-during-the-nineteenth-and/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) ## More by Daron Acemoğlu > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“As such, the usual pattern of interaction between a critical juncture and existing institutional differences leading to further institutional and economic divergence played out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/as-such-the-usual-pattern-of-interaction-between-a-critical-juncture/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Lack of creative destruction and innovation is not the only reason why there are severe limits to growth under extractive institutions. The history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/lack-of-creative-destruction-and-innovation-is-not-the-only-reason/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“As with France, an important consequence of the British Industrial Revolution for China and Japan was military vulnerability. China was humbled by British sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/as-with-france-an-important-consequence-of-the-british-industrial/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Though the extractive institutions that the Mayas created produced sufficient wealth for the cities to flourish and the elite to become wealthy and generate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/though-the-extractive-institutions-that-the-mayas-created-produced/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“THERE ARE HUGE DIFFERENCES in living standards around the world. Even the poorest citizens of the United States have incomes and access to health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/there-are-huge-differences-in-living-standards-around-the-world-even/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“The Maya’s economy was based on extensive occupational specialization, with skilled potters, weavers, woodworkers, and tool and ornament makers. They also traded obsidian, jaguar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/the-maya-s-economy-was-based-on-extensive-occupational-specialization/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“In the same way, current Chinese growth has nothing to do with Chinese values or changes in Chinese culture; it results from a process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/in-the-same-way-current-chinese-growth-has-nothing-to-do-with-chinese/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“NATIONS FAIL TODAY because their extractive economic institutions do not create the incentives needed for people to save, invest, and innovate. Extractive political institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/nations-fail-today-because-their-extractive-economic-institutions-do/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“The geography hypothesis claims that the great divide between rich and poor countries is created by geographical differences. Many poor countries, such as those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/the-geography-hypothesis-claims-that-the-great-divide-between-rich/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Politics is the process by which a society chooses the rules that will govern it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/politics-is-the-process-by-which-a-society-chooses-the-rules-that/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“The pattern of vicious circle depicted by the transition between Haile Selassie and Mengistu, or between the British colonial governors of Sierra Leone and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/the-pattern-of-vicious-circle-depicted-by-the-transition-between/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“NATIONS FAIL TODAY because their extractive economic institutions do not create the incentives needed for people to save, invest, and innovate. Extractive political institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/nations-fail-today-because-their-extractive-economic-institutions-do-2/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [Inclusive economic institutions require secure property rights and economic opportunities not just for the elite but for a broad cross-section of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/inclusive-economic-institutions-require-secure-property-rights-and/) [Daron Acemoglu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“Inequality in the modern world largely results from the uneven dissemination and adoption of technologies,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/inequality-in-the-modern-world-largely-results-from-the-uneven/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) [Explore all 107 Daron Acemoğlu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) ## More French revolution quotes > [My principles are only those that, before the French Revolution, every well-born person considered sane and normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-evola/my-principles-are-only-those-that-before-the-french-revolution-every/) [Julius Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-evola/) > [The French Revolution gave us three... powerful ideas, or concepts - liberty, equality and fraternity. But these ideas... are not only right in themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-barenboim/the-french-revolution-gave-us-three-powerful-ideas-or-concepts/) [Daniel Barenboim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-barenboim/) > [“Your mother, my mother, and mother of pearl walk into a bar, and the bartender says, “Hello, dad, you look more like whiskey than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/your-mother-my-mother-and-mother-of-pearl-walk-into-a-bar-and-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“The nobility above all could not understand how it could possibly regenerate itself in assemblies where no provision had been made for a supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-siey-s/the-nobility-above-all-could-not-understand-how-it-could-possibly/) Emmanuel Sieyés > [“Revolutionists who took part in uprisings in one part of the globe would often migrate to take part in uprisings in another. 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For he is always brought face to face with his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwan-goll/doing-nothing-is-the-hardest-torture-that-a-person-can-put-himself/) [Iwan Goll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwan-goll/) > [ It \[August 10th 1792\] was the bloodiest day of the Revolution so far, but also one of the most decisive. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-doyle/it-august-10th-1792-was-the-bloodiest-day-of-the-revolution-so-far/) William Doyle > [“They are subjected to all manner of taxes: the tithe, the hearth tax and the capitation tax. 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