Final answer:
The quote indicates that economic inclusion and empowerment reduce the likelihood of post-conflict retributive violence, suggesting economic stability and growth foster political harmony and a resilient democratic state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote "because economic democracy preceded political democracy, little retributive violence occurred following the war" implies that when people have an economic stake and empowerment in society, they are less likely to engage in violence after a political transition, such as a war. This can be understood through the lens that economic stability and inclusive growth lead to more harmonious societies where political conflicts are less likely to be resolved through violence. The scenario discussed in the quote suggests that when people feel they have economic security and fairness, they may not feel the need for revenge or retribution once a conflict is resolved.
Modernization theorists like New York University professor Adam Przeworski and Fundação Getúlio Vargas professor Fernando Limongi have indicated that after a certain threshold of economic growth, a democratic regime is more likely to survive. This concept is backed by the idea that economic development can create a fertile ground for democracy to flourish and remain resilient in the long term. Therefore, economic democracy being established before political democracy aids in reducing the desire for retributive violence because the population is more likely to be engaged in a fair economy and trust the political process that evolves from it.