They excelled at brutality, poverty, and economic stagnation. Russia and China are slowly working to overhaul their economies without creating additional upheaval and political discontent. China, by way of following Hong Kong's model, is the most likely to succeed. Russia, on the other hand, is floundering in lawlessness. There are many variations and levels of political and economic freedom that have been deployed during the last 50 years.
Every political stripe reinforces a different level of economic competition and freedom.
India, for example, is a democracy with a low level of economic freedom. Obtaining a business license in India takes years. India's democratic government has huge barriers to free markets. India has a high degree of public planning and oversight. Common sense tells us the people of India are just as smart as anybody else.