Throughout the history of any nation, there are general processes, concepts, and events that occur that cause it to develop across time (Friedman). Thomas Friedman discusses such concepts in his book The World is Flat. The current state of the world is better understood through the analysis of world history. Influential concepts that have contributed to the modern world include nationalism, industrialization, flattening, and globalization (Stiglitz; Rodrik). Each of these concepts greatly impacted nations, and in turn, how the rapidly and efficiently each nation entered the globalized world. China, in particular, is an interesting example as a nation was one of the later nations to industrialize. However, China is currently one of the most prosperous nations in modern times (Fenby). Thus, the complex and variant process of globalization is particular to each nation. China exemplifies one of the many ways Friedman’s concepts create a globalized nation (Jacques; Fenby, Will China Dominate the 21st Century?). Each step and concept are equally as valuable. In other words, each country has had their own road map to reach the current state of world globalization. Each nation’s history is incredibly important and influential on the nation’s present state. Therefore, the concepts of nationalism and globalization link together on the timeline of history.
Chinese civilization originated from a number of regional centers along the Yangtze River valleys and the Yellow River that emerged during the Neolithic era (Gernet). With thousands of years of history, China is one of the first regions to develop civilization in the world (Gernet; Buckley Ebrey). Centuries of amalgamation, development and migration fostered the development of civilization. Overtime, the widespread communities formed into the greater nation of China. China’s detailed 4,000 years of history provide a national history that showcases nationalism, industrialization, and globalization (Hansen).
The beginning of Chinese nationalism arose from the communities that shared a similar culture and language. China’s strong history of tradition and shared beliefs created a powerful sense of nationalism. From the beginning, ancestral worship united the population with family-oriented religions--Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism (Hansen, The Silk Road: A New History). The moral background of the Chinese is largely shaped by Confucianism ideologies such as conservatism and obedience. A long history of emperors and Mandate of Heaven created a culture of respect and conformity (Yao). China’s political and religious practices reflect the nation’s morals. Today, the people of China share a passionate and dedicated sense of nationalism. Reflected in their Communist past, and modern economic prosperity is their longstanding traditional work ethic.
The Communist Era in China directly influenced the economic timeline of the nation (Service). China was considerably late to industrialize, as agriculture still employed the majority of the population in the later half of the 20th century. In addition, Chinese nationalism’s roots in family-oriented religions were focused on community relationships rather than individual gain. Thus, ethnic nationalism was also responsible for the delay of industrialization in China. Due to cultural traditions, the family remained the focus of importance throughout the majority of China’s history. Such social ideals coupled with Communist ideals created a sense of nationalism that resisted the introduction of industrialization.
In the 1990s, China began to rise as a world power with the rapid introduction of industrialization (Bramal). With the same sense of dedicated nationalism, the people of China redirected the Communist work ethic towards catching up in global industrialization. The People’s Republic of China underwent a variety of attempts at restructuring under Mao Zedong and the Community Party’s reign. Throughout its prior history, China remained steadfast in national independence and pride. Mao Zedong was acknowledged for pushing China from an agricultural state to international industrial competitor (Hwang). When China industrialized, the nation rapidly surpassed other world powers because of their long history and deep roots in hard work ethic. As China’s values were not based in liberal nationalism with civil rights and individual liberties, the workforce was more able to dedicate the hard work necessary to propel the nation into a thriving economy. As industrialization requires an energy source, China was particularly advantageous with the region’s large natural resource of coal (Keane). In addition, China’s large sized population was incredibly beneficial on the road to become an industrialized world power (Bhagwati).
With the introduction of industrialization, China became a world power as it became able to devote its surplus of resources to become a player in the international market. Thus, China serves as an example of how industrialized nations have developed throughout history to come together to form the modern day state of globalization. When China became an established industrialized nation, it began to act as a world flattener. China’s particular resources, population and work ethic, allowed it to become a world flattener. In addition, other countries began to outsource to China because of the cheap labor force and quality production. As technology advanced around the globe, China continued to Thomas Friedman’s concept of uploading. Many collaboration projects existed between China and other countries. In a sense, China rapidly entered the scene as a highly globalized nation by playing a huge role in the international market (Stiglitz, Freefall: Free Markets and the Sinking of the Global Economy).
Despite entering into economic prosperity, the nation of China continues to retain a sense of nationalism. In other words, the government and peoples still remain arguably within the legacy of Communism. China, as a society and country, is known for its national pride and private inclusivity (Roubini and Mihm). China has greatly contributed to the world technologically and economically but has refrained from a reputation of overt political and social friendliness. Thus, one could argue China has not reached the full definition of globalization. China represents a country that has encountered the effects of nationalism, industrialization, and globalization. The example represents how nations have developed throughout history to enter the modern world of globalization.
Nations have each taken their own path to reach their current state. Despite each nations different past, they each had events that lead them to where they are today. A key event in any nation’s history was when they were able to industrialize because it shapes their whole future. For example, England was one of the first nations to industrialize but despite having this advantages countries like the United States and China that industrialized later are more powerful and have higher GDPs (Krugman). England also originally founded many of the colonies in the United States but when their colonies gained their independence, they took their own path to reach the point they are at today. A country's history shapes the country’s people who determine the outcome of their nation.
The Original Jewish immigrants who moved to Israel after the holocaust were so perseverant and hard working because of the struggles they had to face in the past. Israel is a nation founded in 1948 and rapidly industrialized and despite the small population and the lack of natural resources it was able to thrive because of the will of the people to work and to bring their nation to the top (Nitzan and Bichle). Israel is a nation with the 2nd most stock market startup companies, and it has a higher GDP per capita than Italy and Spain countries that have been around for centuries (Krugman). Israelis have felt a strong sense of national pride since the country was founded. A day after the United Nations declared Israel’s independence the country was already at war with its neighbors from all sides. The origins and sense of nationalism a nation’s inhabitants feel true shapes the countries’ future.
History has shaped the world we live in today more than one can imagine. Despite the different past each nation has been through they had key events like nationalism, industrialization, and globalization that have lead them to where they are today. As one analyzes, powerful nations in the world’s roadmaps one will see the key step they took to reach the globalized point they are at today. One will see how similar and different each countries history is. Each took its own path but in the end they all had important events that brought them here today.
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