Application Quote by Niall Ferguson
“For 500 years the West patented six killer applications that set it apart. The first to download them was Japan. Over the last century, one Asian country after another has downloaded these killer apps- competition, modern science, the rule of law and private property rights, modern medicine, the consumer society and the work ethic. Those six things are the secret sauce of Western civilization.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Civilisation: The West and the Rest, Niall Ferguson, 2011
Western civilization's success stems from six core institutions; other societies adopt them to achieve comparable progress.
In simple terms: Western success due to six key institutions.
Key Takeaway
Adopt these institutions for development.
Themes
history
economics
political science
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
historical
strategic
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- education
- legal system design
Key Concepts
institutionalism
modernization
globalization
Questions to Reflect On
- Which of these institutions is most lacking in your country?
- How can they be adapted locally?
A Different Perspective
Complex cultural contexts may resist adoption.
