Japanese colonialism :: essays research papers

Itis interesting to find that only rough politicaleconomists emphasize the fact that Japanese colonialismin Korea played a large part in the development of ahigh-growth scrimping. In two readings we get to seethat Japanese colonialism greatly differed from Europeancolonialism. In mavin way, this is beca aim Europeancolonialism rarely introduced heavy industry into theeconomy, or even pushed the economy with such a heavyhand. As well, Japan left Korea with a relatively highlevel of industrialization, not something we commonlysee with European colonialism. In Kohlis article we seethat Japan came into Korea at the very starting line of itscolonial rule and transformed the state, not just whencreating speedy economic growth. I liked this articlein that Kohli took a very doctrinal approach to writingit, noting the many steps it took for Korea to alter, as well as noting extensively the extentto which Japan played a role. Bruce Cumings articlewas contrasting in that it looked more towards Japan,Taiwan, and Korea. In his article, he not only looks atJapan as a colonizer, nevertheless also an industrializer. I reckon that in both of the readings, it is amazing thateach of the countries examined were able toindustrialize so quickly. Northeast Asia industrializedin only decades, whereas its taken the rest of the area centuries to do the same. In response to this, itis important to cite the argument virtually the statesrole in economic development, what Atul Kohli says is"the extent to which state intervention was marketconforming versus market distorting or, to use arelated set of concepts, the extent to which the stateled rather than followed the market." In eacharticle we see what factors went into each countryseconomic development. It is interesting to note thatJapanese colonial governments were fairly harsh inruling its colonies, but despite this, its subjectscontinued to work hard and obey. The stronghold Japan hurt over Korea was immense. Even w ealthy drink downowners,the Yangban elite, were controlled by the state, and anypolitical organizations and national movements thatthreatened the authoritarian state were squashed. Possible the fact that both Korea and Taiwan, as well asJapan, were fairly small countries amounted forsomething when struggling to industrialize late. Kohlisuggests that land area might well be a factor insuccessful colonization. This is, he says, is one ofthe reasons for the lack of problems the Japanese had inestablishing countenance between the center in Seoul andthe periphery. In Bruce Cumings article he illustratesthat Korea and Taiwan became "receptacles for decliningJapanese industries." It is still interesting to seethat Korea and Taiwan managed to industrialize so fast