I live in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is a rambling, shambling conurbation with a population of 12 million. There is desperate poverty in some parts and if you looked at it you’d think it was a seething urban nightmare of chaos and crime. Actually it’s remarkably crime free.
In the ten years I have lived here, wandering around some dodgy areas late at night with my big red Irish face telling the world I have probably had a few too many drinks I have never met with anything other than a broad grin and a “hello mister!”. The worst crime I suffered was when I had my wallet stolen on a bus but it was handed back to me by a fellow passenger who had seen the thief and made him hand it over.
If I am not mistaken the murder rate was something in the region of 80 per year, out of 12 million people.
Asian people are generally law-abiding (well except for the endemic corruption of course).
Great post, Mick. It’s about the CULTURE. Even very poor 3rd world nations can have a strong culture that respects personal freedom and safety.
Or a rich but declining former “superpower” can have a totally toxic “culture” like ours.