7. Paths to Modernisation
The chapter outlines the contrasting paths of modernization taken by China and Japan in the 19th and 20th centuries. While Japan successfully transitioned into a modern nation-state and industrial power through its embrace of Western practices combined with traditional values, China faced turmoil and struggles, culminating in the Communist Revolution that sought to eradicate inequalities but resulted in a repressive political climate. The chapter emphasizes the importance of historical context and cultural identity in shaping national trajectories.
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What we have learnt
- China and Japan had distinctly different paths to modernization influenced by their historical contexts.
- Japan adopted Western ideas while integrating its traditions, whereas China faced internal challenges and foreign pressures.
- The success of Japan's modernization contributed to its imperial ambitions, while China's struggles led to the rise of the Communist Party.
Key Concepts
- -- Meiji Restoration
- A political revolution in Japan during 1868 that marked the end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of power to the emperor.
- -- Communism
- A socio-political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society and common ownership of production means, as seen in the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
- -- Western Imperialism
- The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means, significantly impacting both China and Japan during the 19th century.
- -- Nationalism
- A sense of pride and devotion to one's nation that grew in Japan as it modernized and expanded its empire, contrasting with the weakened pride of Chinese nationalism faced with imperialism.
- -- Zaibatsu
- Large family-controlled vertical monopolies in Japan which emerged during the Meiji era as key players in the industrial economy.
- -- Cultural Revolution
- A socio-political movement initiated by Mao Zedong in 1966 to preserve Chinese Communism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.
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