Globalization can be defined as a process of exchanging social and cultural practices between different countries to improve the economic, political and social condition of a country. This process involves practices such as trade and investment functioned with the help of information technology. This process helps a country progress socially, politically and economically. The effects of globalization are mostly positively that is why every country wants to adopt it. Besides, countries like China and Japan have adopted globalization extensively and are frequently compared with highly developed nations United States or United Kingdom.
China is astonishing America so much that the Americans have no clue as to how can such a populated state, having up to 1.3 billion population (four times higher than the United States’ population) progress so rapidly. Americans are unable to figure out what is happening in China. The change has arrived so suddenly in that country. Chinese products are more used than the American products, China does more trade than America, China produces more automobiles, gold, coal, steel and mobile phones then America and Chinese consume more energy than Americans. This country has not only impacted United States but different countries like UK, Germany, Russia, India, etc. It has vastly changed the political and economic condition of the world. Every country wants to be friends with China the country is going through massive globalization and can benefit them in so many ways. Although China is suffering from nationalism but its technological advancement has led it to become the second most economically stable country in the world. Even America is forced to do a lot of trade with China. In the last thirty years, China’s economy has advanced up to 9 per cent and has been able to give employment to 400 million people becoming the fastest and largest financially stable country in the world. Modern China contains lots of urban areas having so many financial districts. Twenty quickest developing cities are found in China. No country could compete with the industrial growth that Britain once when through except now; China is going through industrial revolution just like Britain went through once. China is governing even our daily lives because the products like television, microwaves, DVD players, etc come from that country.
Over the past couple of decades, several countries including the United States have taken money from China. Now China owns the largest foreign currency treasury around the globe. Through its smart strategic planning, China has earned this status in the world. Although China is the largest country area wise as well as population wise but the country is quickly overcoming its problems and growing its economy. There is no other country doing better trade than China and almost all countries in the world import products from there making it biggest manufacturer in the world. No country even United States can steal the consumer market of China. On the other hand, China is the biggest consumer of the world. This country’s economy has advanced seven times higher as compare to America in the earlier decade. Although Chinese government is spending huge amount of money on their military but still it has a long way to go to stand against United States face to face because the latter country is world’s number one superpower; it is still dominating the economic, political and military spheres. Nevertheless, China is regarded second powerful country around the globe and this fact has changed the shape of international politics.
In the 19th century, in the East of Asia, there was another country that although had been struck with devastating wars but still had the courage to move forward and go under massive industrialization. This country is none other than Japan, which was also imitating the industrialization practices carried out in the Western part of the world. Now Japan is also part of the world’s largest economies. During 1912 to 1926, Emperor Taisho had a weak rule over Japan. Soon the country was ruled by democratic parties in a parliamentary system. In the WW1, Japan joined hands with the Allied powers to fight with Germany but played a very minor role. Japan faced rejection a lot of racial discrimination from United States, Britain and Australia at the Paris Peace Conference when proposed racial equality clause. After the WW1 finished, Japan faced a lot of turmoil. Its economic condition deteriorated. After the 1923 earthquake and 1929 depression, the destruction elevated. In the following year, the government lost control on the country and military established its power. Afterwards, Japan fought several other wars that led to the deterioration of relations with United States and Britain. From 1941 to 1945, WW2 broke out in which Japan fought with United States. US military dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki after which emperor Showa gave up.
United States occupied Japan from 1945 till 1952 and General McArthur was appointed the Supreme Commander. Few cities were also occupied by Soviet Union. A new constitution was made in 1947. Human rights and universal suffrage was guaranteed. Due to the war, Japan was demolished; government, transportation systems and industries were severely damaged. There was even a food shortage. Japan was forbidden to form an army or start a war by the United Nation. Decentralization took place education system, business system and police system. Japanese started to cooperate with the westerners. They welcomed the occupation of United States. Several treaties were signed. However, from 1952 onwards Japan restored its relations with Soviet Union, China and United States and its economy started to flourish rapidly. Positive changes in societies, living standards and politics were witnessed. When Japan faced oil crisis during 1973, it researched on new ways to progress like in the field of technology.
Reactive modernization is what took place in Japan during the nineteenth century. At that time, it was the first country to compete against the challenges that the Western nations put forward and soon it won those challenges. During the 1945, Japan was totally destroyed economically, psychologically and even politically by Americans. At that time the country suffered from all sorts of financial and social problems. However, only after few years Japan started to progress like a miracle. How Japan developed so rapidly is still quite a mystery of the West even now. It started to spend a lot of money on technological sector and now dominates the industries of automobiles, mobile phones, electric appliances, etc.
Japan is the pride of Asia because no other country in the world has ever been able to develop as quickly from the ruins as this country. It has now one of the leading economies, offer’s first class living standard to the public and contains state-of-the-art public transportation structure. The Japanese culture is distinctive from all other cultures around the world and it is considered the secret behind the success of this country. Japan has still not acclaimed the status it deserves in the world because it did not adopted globalization like China. Japan still has troubled relationships with Western nations and even neighboring East Asian nations because it is so different from them socially and culturally. Japan had to face some serious problems due to adopting reforms that later proved to be ineffective. This is clearly visible in the administration of Koizumi that tool place from 2001 to 2006.
Japan develops cutting-edge technology as it is clearly visible from the cell phones, robots, trains and electric appliances that they develop. Now other Asian countries are also walking on the same path as Japan to modernize. After China, Japan is an example from Asia that influences and encourages other countries especially the under developed countries to progress.
Bibliography
Causes and effects of Globalization. (2012, May 14). Retrieved from Labour Economics: http://laboureconomics.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/causes-and-effects-of-globalization-6/
Gyohten, T. (2001). Waves of Globalization, How Japan and Australia Should Respond. Japan.
Lehmann, J. P. (2009, May). Japan's 21st Century Challenge. Retrieved from IMD: http://www.imd.org/research/challenges/TC030-09.cfm
Snyder, M. (2013, Febraury 10). 40 ways that China is beating America. Retrieved from The American Dream: http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/40-ways-that-china-is-beating-america
What is Globalization? (n.d.). Retrieved from Globalization 101: http://www.globalization101.org/what-is-globalization
