English 9
China and America are developed countries that have many differences and similarities such as government, culture, and economy. According to the World Values Survey, China has a very different culture and political system from the U.S. However, in many aspects these two are almost exact-opposites. China is traditionalist and authoritarian, while the U.S. is democratic and diverse composed of many different cultures and religions. China is a very ancient civilization with history, language and culture dating back at least 5,000 years. On the other hand, the U.S. is an infant civilization in comparison, having begun as a collective of 13 British colonies in the 17th Century and existing as an independent country only since 1776. Compared to China, the U.S. industrialized early on, beginning in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Chinese economy focused more on the agricultural sector until the 20th Century. Both countries have had very impactful revolutions. The American Revolution moved the country in a liberal-democratic direction, but the Chinese Revolution of 1949 resulted in communism and established a state based on a one-party rule that continues to this day.
In China’s traditional society, power is organized along very hierarchical and authoritarian lines, where managers and leaders expect to be obeyed and their workers are required to be obedient. There has never been any concept of equal rights and protections under the law for all citizens. The U.S. has a ruling class of wealthy people, managers and bureaucrats, and these groups have most of the political power, but culturally it is still more individualistic and less deferential than China. Success in America is always measured in terms of competition and individual effort and achievement, while China places far more emphasis on the groups and the team. Laws and regulations in the U.S. are generally formal and written, based on contracts, while in China they are informal, based on each person understanding of his or her duties and place in the country, which is always based on age and status. Although differences do exist between the two governments, they possess some similarities. Both the United States and china have become very progressive countries. Certainly America is more urbanized, but China is urbanizing at a faster rate.
These two nations also value education and they both have policies that promote the education systems for their youths. Both value family time and that can be demonstrated by the fact that they like to attend family gatherings as well as the fact that they do eat at the same table as a family. When it comes to technology, the Chinese and the American people are obsessed with it. This is shown because they are the producers of a big heap of technological devices like the iPod. When it comes to children, both Chinese and American parents love their kids and they do all it takes to protect their kids. Amidst these similarities are some differences which separate one with the other. The Chinese people generally think in such a way were they are concerned for the group as a whole, while the Americans prioritize their individual goals over the collective ones. Morals also differ in that the Chinese culture allows people to treat others well and showing restraint when discussing whilst the American people discuss things openly and humbleness is associated to weakness. Freedom of speech is another factor that brings about another difference between the two cultures. The Chinese are sternly bound by politeness and honoring the views and opinions of others while the culture of their counterparts the Americans do give room for a continuous discussion even if there are conflicting ideas
Another similarity between China and America is that they have a capitalist economy which means that private owners are motivated by profits and not government-controlled. Today, China and America are very important actors in the global field of political and economic influence. This is attributed to their advanced produce and services as well as their expertise towards the global markets. To differentiate these countries in terms of economic aspects, there are fewer labor regulations in China than in the US; minimum wages are generally much lower, and China has just started a welfare system. The Chinese economy is also protected by tariffs, which makes high-end goods like electronics very expensive. Lastly the Chinese economy is growing along with its influence while the Americas economy is declining.
In conclusion, we can see that America and China have many similarities and differences. China is a traditional, conservative, and authoritarian society, while the United States is a free and multicultural society. China’s government is communist, while America is a republic. Both China and America have the biggest economies in the world and they are two of the most influential countries in the world.
