The Economic Growth of China, South Korea, and Japan in the End of the 20th Century
Hist 120 Poshek Fu Take Home Final May 6, 2013
In the 1980s, the world talked was amazed by the rapid economic recovery of Asia as Hong Kong and Japan, war ravaged backwaters merely 35 years prior, were suddenly out competing their western contemporaries. China, South Korea, and Japan experienced incredible economic growth near the end of the 20th century. So well prepared to tackle the 21st are these countries that some have gotten excited enough to call our century, the Asian century. East Asia will undoubtedly have a strong presence in the following decades, but what exactly is the unique East Asian fingerprint? What is East Asia and what unique characteristics does it have that make its members so important in today's modern era? As Charles Holocombe explained it, "A persuasive argument can be made that rather than representing some fundamentally unprecedented departure from past experience, the recent economic rise of East Asia is really more of a return to normal." ( A History of East Asia, p1) East Asia is the world most usefully defined as the region of the world which extensively use Chinese writing system and absorbed much of the philosophy of Confucianism. ( A History of East Asia, p3) These major regions which share the use of Chinese writing, a rich political history of dynastic rulers, and who bear respect for the virtues of Confucianism have colorful and diverse cultures that make them uniquely East Asian; moreover, China, Korea, and Japan each have long eventful histories prior to being dragged through the fires of war and revolution and miracle stories of their own before becoming the economic powerhouses that we know them as today.
A vast majority of the people in East Asia would call themselves Chinese. They would be proud to call themselves so because China has since ancient times, exerted pressure on the East Asian sphere and commanded respect from its neighbors-- today, it is second only to the United States in terms
In the 1980s, the world talked was amazed by the rapid economic recovery of Asia as Hong Kong and Japan, war ravaged backwaters merely 35 years prior, were suddenly out competing their western contemporaries. China, South Korea, and Japan experienced incredible economic growth near the end of the 20th century. So well prepared to tackle the 21st are these countries that some have gotten excited enough to call our century, the Asian century. East Asia will undoubtedly have a strong presence in the following decades, but what exactly is the unique East Asian fingerprint? What is East Asia and what unique characteristics does it have that make its members so important in today's modern era? As Charles Holocombe explained it, "A persuasive argument can be made that rather than representing some fundamentally unprecedented departure from past experience, the recent economic rise of East Asia is really more of a return to normal." ( A History of East Asia, p1) East Asia is the world most usefully defined as the region of the world which extensively use Chinese writing system and absorbed much of the philosophy of Confucianism. ( A History of East Asia, p3) These major regions which share the use of Chinese writing, a rich political history of dynastic rulers, and who bear respect for the virtues of Confucianism have colorful and diverse cultures that make them uniquely East Asian; moreover, China, Korea, and Japan each have long eventful histories prior to being dragged through the fires of war and revolution and miracle stories of their own before becoming the economic powerhouses that we know them as today.
A vast majority of the people in East Asia would call themselves Chinese. They would be proud to call themselves so because China has since ancient times, exerted pressure on the East Asian sphere and commanded respect from its neighbors-- today, it is second only to the United States in terms