Charter Cities May Provide Alternative To Violence

Dave Killion — September 5, 2012

The proposed charter cities of Honduras have come one step closer. With the government signing of a memorandum of agreement, construction may begin as soon as March 2013 -

“The project’s aim is to strengthen Honduras’ weak government and failing infrastructure, overwhelmed by corruption, drug-related crime and lingering political instability after a 2009 coup.

The project “has the potential to turn Honduras into an engine of wealth,” said Carlos Pineda, president of the Commission for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships. It can be “a development instrument typical of first world countries.”

As I have said before, this strikes me as a Very Big Deal. Making the transition out of a corrupt, authoritarian regime usually involves violent revolution, but charter cities may provide the means for reform-minded government agents to work around those with vested interests in maintaining the status quo. Keep your fingers crossed!

News, Privatisation

5 Comments

Comments

Jeremy Maddock says

Definitely a step in the right direction.

We shouldn’t expect instant success, as some charter cities might be corrupt too, especially in the context of a fairly corrupt and chaotic society. But when individual cities are independent and the people running have a vested interest in their success, new ideas can materialize and honest people can work wonders. Smaller government, closer to the people governed, is always the best way to go.

— September 5, 2012

Gilda Batista says

It would be great to have one of these cities built in the US.

— September 20, 2012

Dave Killion says

That’s what I think, too. They are, to some extent, simply Special Economic Zones, but with foreign management. Surely the US or Canada could create such a zone, and allow people to move in voluntarily. It would be a fantastic experiment.

— September 21, 2012

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