On this side track to the discussion, I think that a major factor there was the ___location of decision making vs. where the action took place. Too much control was taken away from the ___location where it was needed.
Centralization does that, in general, not just in those countries.
There is a reason octopuses have sub-brains in their arms, and that some of our reflexes are controlled from neurons in the spine and not from all the way up in the brain, and why small army units have some autonomy.
Isn't centralized vs decentralized just another case of efficient vs robust?
If you want to make an optimal decision, you need to make it in a centralized fashion, in some form. But that also gives you a single point of failure.
Centralization does that, in general, not just in those countries.
There is a reason octopuses have sub-brains in their arms, and that some of our reflexes are controlled from neurons in the spine and not from all the way up in the brain, and why small army units have some autonomy.