Consequences of the tsunami

Consequences of the tsunami

Natural disasters are also political events. Even if the question may sound insensitive, we have to ask ourselves what the consequences of the catastrophe that hit Asian coasts will be. Will local regimes be criticized? After this tidal wave, will there be an anti-globalism and anti-western political wave as well?

This mainly concerns those countries that...have lately registered high growth rates. This growth has created a business middle class, but is also keeping urban and country masses on the fringe of society.

Thailand and Indonesia can have a stock market, a banking system, foreign investors, successful industries, but they do not have an alert system, or modern health facilities. They have been able to double their GDP in less than 20 years, but they are unable to protect their people from such an event that Japan, for example, is even able to predict.

It is not enough to just help people struck by the quake. It will be necessary to help their governments and show that the Asia's growth can be less dramatically unbalanced. -- Corriere della Sera, Milan, Italy