As we have been studying, before 1914 when Chinese nationalists movements were not large enough to challenge their Western imperialist rulers, China lived under Western rule. As it states in the textbook, Civilization and Revolution, "Asian nationalists favored modernization and eventually adopted Western techniques and ideas" (872). If this is the case, evidently the question that arises is, why did China go to such lengths to break free from Western rule even though they adopted and believed in the customs and ideas that the West held?
The result is two possibilities. First the Chinese were wise, they saw that Western imperialist rule would eventually result in abuse and the West would take advantage of their "colony". Second the Chinese were stupid at attempting to break away from Western rule first because they would have adopted their ideas of modernization more quickly, which would lead to advancement in technology, allowing them to increase national defense and they would have the aid of a powerful territory through ruff economic, political and social times.
I believe the latter of these possibilities is true. China was stupid in breaking away from the West. If China had of stayed with the West they would have improved their national defense, allied themselves with a powerful nation and rapidly improved such areas as science and technology. The cons are simply that the West could possibly begin to enforce harsh rule. The advantages in this specific case completely outweigh the disadvantages. China would be better protected from foreign invasion with the aid of their rapidly advancing technology and the aid of their powerful ally. Their economy would also increase rapidly, due to specific jobs opening up for technological and scientific positions. New technology would also result in industrial expansion and growth, while easing life for the common citizen.
It is also critical to note that if China remained under Western rule even for a short period of time, if the West began to take advantage of China by invoking harsh rule leading to them seizing land and resources form the Chinese, the introduction of new technology and population within China would be enough to rebel against the powerful enemy. They would be able to break free from the West and still have benefitted from allying with them.
Are you suggesting that China would have been better off to submit to foreign rule and become a full-blown colony (because, as an aside, it's worth noting that China was not "under Western rule" at any point--the concessions were not full-blown colonies, and only Japan actually tried to conquer China, and they of course failed). It sounds like you're condoning imperialism.
ReplyDeleteThere are some people (not surprisingly, they're Westerners) who take this position, that empire can be good for the subject peoples. The historian Niall Ferguson is one, and this article in the Atlantic proposes something similar. Still, why should the Chinese have to give up their freedom and autonomy in order to gain the benefits of the West. After all, the Japanese westernized without becoming a colony.