2015-12-17

Unrest in the Netherlands

China doesn't have a monopoly on rising social unrest.

Guardian: Thousands riot in small Dutch town over plan for asylum-seeker centre
According to national broadcaster NOS, around 2,000 people joined the protest in a town of 27,000.

A meeting of the town’s council to decide on whether to build the centre to house 1,500 asylum seekers had to be halted. A regional broadcaster showed footage of the meeting being evacuated by shouting policemen as rioters sought to force their way into the building.
In China, people protest because they don't have power and they need to get out on the street so the leaders will notice them. It isn't a threat to the regime simply to have people in the streets, even a large number around the country, if they are protesting local issues. Meanwhile in the West, there is supposed democracy. If you are angry, you vote for change. When people go into the streets in the West, especially the supposed majority groups, something is deeply wrong and the risk of regime change is far greater.

I would not worry much about labor unrest in China, though it could increase substantially in 2016. I'm be far more worried about the West when 10% of a town come out and protest the elected officials. The odds of the police joining the protesters is a real risk in the West, not so much in China.

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