ive interests and individual freedom.” The argument cannot continue without clarifying precarious words like “freedom”, “development”, and “liberty”; all words that could make or break the discussion on developing nations. Freedom can be defined as the absence of necessity, coercion or constraint in choice or action. In close relation this definition, Tocqueville applauds the following definition of freedom: “There is a civil, a moral, a federal liberty, which is the proper end and object of authority: it is a liberty for that only which is just and good; for this liberty you are to stand with the hazard of your very lives. . .This liberty is maintained in a way of subjection to authority; and the authority set over you will in all administrations for your good be quietly submitted unto, by all but such as have a disposition to shake off the yoke, and lose their true liberty, by their murmuring at the honor and power of authority.” This definition emphasizes positive liberty, which is maintained through subjection to the authorities, which have liberty as their goal. Implicit in this definition then is the assertion that government will has the power to act in the name of society. Liberty in coordination with freedom is the state of being free. Development is to go through a process of natural growth, differentiation, or evolution by successive changes or to make active. These are the vital factor in a growing country and society. Huang still believed that China had grown rapidly, however at the expense of their individual freedom. P.S. Ye offered a rebuttal and an insight that begin to resemble Tocqueville and his feelings on the ability of men to rule themselves. Ye’s argument was thus: “The more political controls imposed on the peasants, the less they want to work. On the other hand, when the national government shed itself of most controls in the country...
