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> Undemocratic political systems don't even always have power concentrated in one person

This is absolutely correct, which frames my point in an even worse light. The whims and power of the Leader are the whims of subordinates to the leader, who are superiors to further subordinates. Western continental philosophy, Heidegger, Arendt, Levinas, all framed this concept under the term "The Totality." It's fascinating.

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Framing Western philosophy on Eastern geopolitics might give you a fancy picture. It lets you feel comfortable, but it's a departure from reality.

Reality appears to contain giant statues of a European Jewish Socialist heralded throughout Beijing. If the East was so proud of some original political system held as "superior to democracy" -- why does the ruling regime employ the same tactics to hold power over the affairs of men as documented by a 16th century Italian?

Politics might be flavored and seasoned by locale, race and culture, but the meat is all the same and always has been. To conclude otherwise, or make China a "special case" is probably racism. It also denudes the notion of universal human rights.

Power struggle has been the same since the dawn of human civilization, regardless of where you are. As you said, meat is all the same.

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