I think it is more accurate to say the the presence of democracy was part of the environment that allowed industrialization to occur. It was (e.g.) UK acts of Parliament that developed canals and later railroads:
Democracy was around millennia ago. The frequency of democracy increased after industrialisation, in part due to its effects on the middle class. Britain and America’s democracies expanded because of it; Europe’s finally found purchase and, in the post-colonial era, so did other continents.
> the presence of democracy was part of the environment that allowed industrialization to occur
> I think it is more accurate to say the the presence of democracy was part of the environment that allowed industrialization to occur.
That capitalism causes democracy is so high-level that it’s just a propaganda line. People from Marxists to neoliberals could say the same thing (meaning different things when interrogated).
> Democracy is older than political liberalism and its accompanying capitalism
The Athenians and Romans weren’t capitalist. But they were closer to it than Marxism or neoliberalism. (They both had private property, money in elections, trade, finance, et cetera.)
Not everywhere:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrialization_in_the_Sovie...
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward
It should also be noted that the Industrial Revolution occurred in the early 1800s:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution
Democracy was already around by then:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingd...
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution
I think it is more accurate to say the the presence of democracy was part of the environment that allowed industrialization to occur. It was (e.g.) UK acts of Parliament that developed canals and later railroads:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_canal_s...