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There were some qualifications on it, for instance British colonialism established the institutions of a free market economy which are what is needed for the transition to democracy or constitutional liberalism as he calls it.

This is also how he describes a liberal-autocrat as being necessary in opening up the economy (like China) until the institutions are established that can lead to democracy. IIRC he said Morocco and Tunisia have dictators and GDP per capita above the 6K mark so may be ready for democracy. He said nations can transition to democracy but without that per capita mark they often don't achieve permanent democracy.