Perspective on Asian Modernization

Author: Jiang Guishi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: This book is the final outcome of the research project "The Study on Globalization and the Modernization Process in Asia" funded by the National Social Science Fund. The main purpose of this book is to conduct a comprehensive study of the modernization process in Asia from the perspective of globalization. Globalization is not only an objective trend in the economic development of the contemporary world but also a hot topic in international academia. The term "globalization" has become one of the most frequently used words in various media, and research findings on globalization have been, forming a vast body of literature. For any country, region, ethnic group, or even any individual to survive in the contemporary world, it is necessary to face globalization, integrate into it, and adapt to it. Modernization is also a major trend in the development of the contemporary world. Since the beginning of modern times, the process of world modernization has gone through stages of incubation, preparation, initiation, and continuous development, and has now become a global trend. Looking at the world today, developed countries, after post-war reforms and adjustments, have taken the lead in entering the post-modernization society, while the vast majority of developing countries have also strived to catch up, implementing modernization strategies aimed at surpassing others. It can be said that no country has modernization as its development goal, no decision-maker has modernization as a fundamental policy, and no people have modernization as a beautiful ideal and prospect to pursue and yearn for.
The modernization of Asia in the global modernization process started later than Europe and belongs to the latecomers in modernization, with significant uneven development and frequent reversals and interruptions. However, after World War II, it has become the center of the third wave of world modernization, especially with the economic takeoff in East Asia, which created the "Asian miracle" that has attracted worldwide attention and made it one of the most dynamically developing regions in the world. Although it was severely impacted by the East Asian financial crisis at the end of the 20th century, it has rapidly recovered after self-adjustment and reforms. Today, the modernization of countries in Asia is flourishing, becoming a shining highlight in the process of global modernization. Globalization, modernization, and Asian modernization are three prominent, inescapable, and significant trends and phenomena in the world's development today, with profound internal consistency and interactive relationships.
Studying globalization from the perspective of macro world history and examining Asian modernization through the lens of globalization helps to interpret the model, path, characteristics, and laws of Asian modernization. This is also one of the main reasons why the author chose to study Asian modernization from the perspective of globalization. The significance of this book lies in organically combining the study of globalization and the modernization process in Asia, examining the process of Asian modernization from the perspective of this major global economic trend. By studying the definition, driving forces, historical process, effects, and current development trends of globalization, it reveals the relationship between globalization and Asian modernization; by exploring the basic experiences and lessons of the modernization process in Asian countries after World War II, it reveals the model, path, basic laws, and characteristics of Asian modernization, and focuses on exploring the current status and future prospects of regional economic integration in Asia under the backdrop of globalization. This research perspective and methodology can further promote the study of globalization issues, further promote the study of the Asian modernization process, and further examine Asian regional economic integration from the perspective of globalization. At the same time, the research of this project is also of important theoretical and practical significance for the vast majority of Asian countries, especially for China's reform and opening-up, modernization construction, and participation in the integration process of Asia and the world.
The main content of this book is as follows.
From a macro perspective of world history, it argues for the connotation, driving forces, process, and effects of globalization. It holds that while globalization encompasses economic, political, social, and cultural aspects, what people currently discuss under globalization primarily refers to economic globalization. The meaning of economic globalization is the deepening of the market economy, driven by the development of productive forces and technological revolutions, with the acceleration of the flow and expansion of factors of production, goods, and services on a global scale. This process leads to the continuous expansion of economic exchanges between countries, an increasing interdependence, and the formation of an indivisible organic whole of the global economy. The fundamental driving force behind economic globalization is the development of productive forces. Economic globalization is neither an ancient phenomenon nor a new one that emerged in the past two decades. It has gone through a historical development process of four to five hundred years. It has gone through four stages in general. From the late 15th century to the mid-18th century was the preparation stage; from the late 18th century to the late 19th century was the initiation stage; from the late 19th century to the end of World War II was the formation stage; and after World War II was the new stage of economic globalization. Economic globalization is the flow and allocation of factors of production on a global scale. On the whole, it is beneficial to the development of the world economy and social progress. However, economic globalization is a double-edged sword, bringing both opportunities and benefits as well as challenges and harms to countries. Since there are gaps in economics and technology between developed and developing countries, and economic globalization is carried out under the leadership of developed countries, it is generally beneficial to developed countries but less beneficial to developing countries. However, it is by no means true, as some may say, that developing countries cannot escape the misfortunes brought by globalization. On the one hand, due to the law of uneven economic development, advance and backwardness are not absolute but can be transformed. The key lies in whether developing countries can adapt to the historical trend, seize opportunities, adopt correct strategies, and truly develop themselves. On the other hand, economic globalization also brings opportunities and favorable conditions for catching up for developing countries. Since their modernization started later, they can learn from and absorb the experiences and lessons of developed countries, avoid detours, develop and introduce advanced technology themselves, and achieve leapfrog development through the "latecomer effect."
Second, examining the processes of world modernization and Asian modernization from the perspective of globalization, placing world modernization and Asian modernization within the context of globalization. From a macro historical perspective, studying the world history process since the beginning of modern times shows that it is not only a history of the incubation, initiation, development, and continuous realization of the world modernization process but also a history of the preparation, initiation, development, and preliminary formation of the process of economic globalization. Economic globalization and modernization are processes that develop synchronously, promote each other, interact, and push each other forward. Essentially, economic globalization is an inevitable result of modernization and a response to the expansion of modernity. The core of modernization is industrialization, where industry and services dominate and play a leading role in society. Economic globalization, on the other hand, primarily refers to the historical process of increasing horizontal exchanges, connections, and interactions among countries and regions. Since industrialism has an innate tendency to expand outward, the process of modernization spreading from one country to others has led to the initiation and diffusion of the globalization process. Examining Asian modernization from the perspective of globalization means examining it from the whole of the globe and with a global outlook. Specifically, it means examining Asian modernization from the perspective of the vertical and horizontal development of history, using Marx's historical concept of "diversity in unity" to study Asian modernization, and combining macro and micro methods to interpret Asian modernization.
Third, discussing the models, characteristics, and development trends of modernization in different regions and major countries in Asia. Overall, Asian modernization has close connections with Western modernization but also significant differences: in terms of the path and model of modernization development, Western modernization is essentially endogenous, while Asian modernization is exogenous; in terms of economic operation mechanisms, Western modernization is a free-market economy, while Asian modernization is a market economy led by the government; in terms of cultural subjects, the cultural subject of Western modernization is Christian culture, while the cultural subject of Asian modernization is Confucian culture, Hindu culture, and Islamic culture. In terms of modernization paths and models, each region and country in Asia also has its own characteristics. East Asia is the center of the third wave of world modernization after World War II. The resurgence of Japan, the takeoff of the Four Asian Tigers, the catch-up efforts of ASEAN, and the rapid development of China's socialist modernization have formed the main melody of East Asian modernization, creating the world-renowned "Asian miracle" and "Asian model." The "Asian model" is a set of economic and political systems and modernization development strategies adopted by East Asian countries and regions based on their own specific conditions. The core of its economic system is industrialization, the main feature of its political system is government leadership, and its cultural subject is Confucian culture. Its development strategy is a catch-up-type modernization strategy. Although the "Asian model" was challenged by the 1997 East Asian financial crisis, as successful experiences accumulated over decades in East Asia, it has not become outdated. The East Asian development model shows that in the face of increasing globalization of the world economy, developing countries can independently leverage their advantages to create modernization paths different from the past. Of course, it must also be pointed out that it cannot provide a ready-made and unchanging development model for all developing countries and regions. Moreover, even from the perspective of their own development, any development model must keep pace with the times and continuously improve and develop itself. At the beginning of the 21st century, in response to the challenges of globalization, the pace of regional economic integration in East Asia has accelerated significantly. The "10+3" mechanism has been running effectively, and a model for the development of a large-scale East Asian free trade area has begun to emerge. The major South Asian country, India, has been stumbling along the path to modernization but since the 1990s has been implementing comprehensive reforms in the face of globalization. Its economic strength has grown rapidly, and its comprehensive national strength has greatly enhanced. India's rise has become a fact that can be anticipated. Over the past fifty years, India has formed a modernization model with its own characteristics: a socialist-style mixed economy in terms of the economy, an import substitution industrialization strategy, and a green revolution in agriculture; a Western-style parliamentary democracy in terms of political structure, left over from the British colonial rule; and a secularism that promotes equality among races, castes, and religions, emphasizing coexistence, and vigorously developing education and science and technology. The new wave of economic globalization has presented challenges to South Asia and India, prompting them to change their previous indifferent attitude toward regional cooperation and explore feasible ways for regional cooperation.
Countries in West Asia are latecomers to modernization, and for them, modernization means introducing modern industrial production methods into traditional social organizations, driving economic development and social change through this "import." Therefore, their modernization is not the result of an intrinsic, spontaneous evolutionary process but belongs to the exogenous, latecomer model. That is, the modernization of these countries is primarily imposed from above by the ruling regimes. As a result, the role and significance of reforms in the initiation, development, breakthrough, turn, and adjustment of modernization in West Asian countries are particularly prominent, making reforms a crucial force in advancing the modernization of West Asian countries. At the same time, against the backdrop of accelerating international political and economic globalization, West Asian countries face both opportunities and challenges. How to seize opportunities, meet challenges, and develop themselves is an urgent task before them.
The five Central Asian countries only truly became members of the international community after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, participating in the international community as sovereign states and integrating into the burgeoning globalization movement. Simultaneously, Central Asian countries began to transition to a market economy and implement reforms in economic, political, and other fields according to their own methods, marking a new era of independent modernization and development. It should be said that in the more than ten years since their independence, the economies of the five Central Asian countries have been restored and developed, politics has remained relatively stable, and they have actively promoted regional economic cooperation among themselves, between themselves and Russia, West Asia, and China against the backdrop of globalization. The five Central Asian countries have achieved economic recovery and development, and political stability over the past decade, and they have been actively promoting regional economic cooperation among themselves, between themselves and Russia, West Asia, and China under the backdrop of globalization. Meanwhile, the major South Asian country, India, is implementing an "Eastward Policy" and exploring the feasibility of establishing a "10+1" free trade area with ASEAN. Regional cooperation organizations such as APEC, the Eurasian summit, and the East Asia-Latin America forum are also actively and productively moving forward. Today, achieving economic integration in Asia and the realization of "win-win" and "multi-win" through Asian unity have transformed from good wishes into a broad consensus among Asian countries. "Strengthening cooperation, promoting development, achieving win-win" is the only path to the rise of Asia and the fundamental interest of the people of Asia. A "stably prosperous, peaceful, developing, and cooperative" Asia is standing tall in the East.
Therefore, if when we first established this project, our main motivation was the hope for Asian unity and win-win cooperation, then as the project nears completion, Asia has already begun to see this encouraging situation. In this sense, this project has a certain degree of forward-looking and pioneering significance. Since the end of the 20th century, both Chinese and foreign academia have continuously predicted that the 21st century would be the "century of Asia," that "Asia would rise," and that the East would replace the West as the "center of the world." The proponents of these views include both Eastern and Asian people as well as Western and American people. Here, regardless of whether these claims are right or wrong, it is an undeniable fact that Asia, as a rapidly developing economy, is rising and will occupy an increasingly important position in the world's economic development in the new century. Asia will inevitably leverage its unique historical and cultural traditions and favorable natural conditions to play its due role in the face of the rapid development of globalization and modernization in the world today. The "new Asia" that an Asian hopes for will inevitably stand tall in the world of globalization. As globalization, regionalization, and modernization develop, Asia will inevitably move toward a large-scale regional union. And according to the interactive relationship between regionalization and modernization, the development of Asian integration will bring prosperity to Asia and further promote the modernization process in Asia. This is also one of the basic conclusions that this book ultimately draws.
In summary, the study of Asian modernization remains a relatively weak field in Chinese academia. Most of the writings on the topic of Asian modernization in circulation are studied from the perspective of sub-regional modernization in Asia (such as East Asia, South Asia, and West Asia modernization) or national modernization (such as Chinese and Indian modernization). Representative works include: "East Asian Modernization: New Models and New Experiences," edited by Luo Rongqi, which focuses on East Asian modernization; "Perspectives on Asian Modernization," edited by Zhang Yunling, which primarily studies modernization in the Asia-Pacific region, or mainly East Asian modernization; "Islam and Modernization in the Middle East," edited by Peng Shuzhi, which primarily studies modernization in the Middle East (including West Asia); "The Development Path of Indian Modernization," edited by Lin Chengjie, which studies the modernization of the major South Asian country, India; and "East Asia and India: Two Models of Asian Modernization," by Chen Fengjun, which compares East Asian and Indian modernization. Other works include "The Historical Process of East Asian Modernization" by Jiang Lihua and Yang Yanshu, "Political Modernization in the Middle East," edited by Chen Decheng, and "The Process of Chinese Modernization," edited by Yu Heping. These works are all powerful studies on sub-regional or national modernization issues in Asia and have played an important role in laying the foundation and promoting the study of world modernization and Asian modernization in China. They have also provided many beneficial insights and strong support for the research of this project. However, no works have yet been seen that truly take Asia as a whole and study its modernization process from the perspective of the entire Asian region and examine Asian modernization from the perspective of globalization. This is also the original intention of this book, or, this book strives to fill a gap in academia in this area. Of course, examining Asian modernization from the perspective of globalization is by no means an easy task, and frankly speaking, the author is unable to undertake such a major responsibility. However, as a social scientist, the sense of mission and responsibility drives us to attempt this arduous task. As for how well this project is done, only experts and readers can judge. This book organically combines the study of globalization and the modernization process in Asia, examining the process of Asian modernization from the perspective of economic globalization as a world economic development perspective. Through the study of the meaning, driving forces, historical process, effects, and development trends of globalization, it reveals the relationship between globalization and Asian modernization; through exploring the basic experiences and lessons of the modernization process in Asian countries after World War II, it reveals the model, path, basic laws, and characteristics of Asian modernization, and focuses on exploring the current status and future prospects of regional economic integration in Asia under the backdrop of globalization. It proposes that "cooperation" and "win-win" in Asia are not only the trend of globalization and Asian modernization development but also the aspiration of the people of Asia. Asia is the largest continent in the world in terms of area, population, and number of countries, and it has a long history and splendid culture, with greater diversity in social development. However, in the contemporary world, Asia as a whole has not played its due role. Especially after the 1980s and 1990s, with the rapid development of globalization and regional economic integration, the process of regional economic integration in Asia has lagged behind Europe and America, and even Africa. The idea of "Asian unity" and "Asian integration" is often mocked as a "beautiful fantasy." Does Asia lack the conditions to achieve unification? Can Asia really not achieve unification? As a member of Asia and the largest country in Asia—China—a social scientist's sense of historical mission and responsibility drives us to delve into this question.
At the same time, it is precisely after this project was approved and implemented that Asian integration has begun to see unprecedented opportunities. Through the joint efforts of most Asian countries, the Boao Asia Forum, a forum organized and led by Asians, was born in 2001, dedicated to discussing Asian affairs from the perspective of Asia and Asia's interests, aiming to enhance exchanges and cooperation among Asian countries and between Asia and other regions of the world. Since its establishment, the Boao Asia Forum has played a significant role in accelerating Asian regional integration. Most Asian countries have vigorously promoted domestic reforms and opening-up policies, and trade and investment links between countries have become increasingly close. Bilateral, regional, sub-regional, and trans-regional economic cooperation has gradually expanded. East Asian regional cooperation (10+3) has entered the substantive stage, and China is actively working with ASEAN to promote East Asian cooperation as the main channel, officially joining the "Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia" in October 2003 and signing a joint declaration with ASEAN to establish a "strategic partnership of peace and prosperity." Economic integration within ASEAN, cooperation in the Mekong River-Lancang River basin, and cooperation in the Tumen River basin are all under way. In South Asia, since the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in 1985, the pace of integration has not been as satisfactory as expected, but with the reconciliation between India and Pakistan in 2003, the necessary conditions for regional economic cooperation have been met. In January 2004, the 12th summit meeting of the South Asian Association adopted and signed a free trade agreement. The leaders of the seven South Asian countries also hope to eventually unify currencies like the EU, forming a mutually beneficial and prosperous unified market. As a result, regional economic cooperation in South Asia has entered the fast lane. Additionally, China-West Asia cooperation is on the verge of taking off, and the China-West Asia Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is continuously exploring new pathways for economic and trade cooperation between Central Asian and West Asian countries and hopes to construct the Eurasian Bridge and rebuild the "Silk Road." At the same time, the major South Asian country, India, is implementing an "Eastward Policy" and exploring the feasibility of establishing a "10+1" free trade area with ASEAN. Regional cooperation organizations such as APEC, the Eurasian summit, and the East Asia-Latin America forum are also actively and productively moving forward. Today, achieving economic integration in Asia, realizing "win-win" and "multi-win" through Asian unity, and working together to build a lasting peace and universally prosperous "new Asia" have transformed from good wishes into a broad consensus among Asian countries. "Strengthening cooperation, promoting development, achieving win-win" is the only path to the rise of Asia and the fundamental interest of the people of Asia. A "stably prosperous, peaceful, developing, and cooperative" Asia is standing tall in the East.
Therefore, if when we first established this project, our main motivation was the hope for Asian unity and win-win cooperation, then as the project nears completion, Asia has already begun to see this encouraging situation. In this sense, this project has a certain degree of forward-looking and pioneering significance. Since the end of the 20th century, both Chinese and foreign academia have continuously predicted that the 21st century would be the "century of Asia," that "Asia would rise," and that the East would replace the West as the "center of the world." The proponents of these views include both Eastern and Asian people as well as Western and American people. Here, regardless of whether these claims are right or wrong, it is an undeniable fact that Asia, as a rapidly developing economy, is rising and will occupy an increasingly important position in the world's economic development in the new century. Asia will inevitably leverage its unique historical and cultural traditions and favorable natural conditions to play its due role in the face of the rapid development of globalization and modernization in the world today. The "new Asia" that an Asian hopes for will inevitably stand tall in the world of globalization. As globalization, regionalization, and modernization develop, Asia will inevitably move toward a large-scale regional union. And according to the interactive relationship between regionalization and modernization, the development of Asian integration will bring prosperity to Asia and further promote the modernization process in Asia. This is also one of the basic conclusions that this book ultimately draws.