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January 2 2008
About twenty years ago, I saw a TV documentary titled The Triumph Of The West. I remember that show after all of this time for two reasons. First, it had a fascinating subject. Second, the producers of the program missed the point so completely that it made my jaw drop.
The premise of the documentary was that a baffling mystery existed in the world of the 1980s. Even back then, astute observers saw that the economic and political dominance of Europe and of The United States was slipping, to be matched and eventually surpassed by Asian countries such as China and India. The paradox was that, at the very time when Western power was eroding, Western ideas were gaining traction everywhere. Despite desperate and even violent resistance from conservative elements, notions like the political rights of the individual, the liberation of women and the separation of religion from the state were catching on in country after country, dramatically altering the cultures of those nations.
How could it be that Western ideas were sweeping across the world like a juggernaut at the very time when the West was in decline?
Of course, the answer is that these "Western ideas" were nothing of the kind. They were the natural consequence of industrialization of societies and the education of the masses that has to accompany it. University educated men and women who make financial and technical decisions all day long at work will not be content to go home in the evening and be told what to do by some dictator. They cannot be as easily manipulated as illiterate peasants can be.
It was an accident of history that the Industrial Revolution happened first in Western Europe. During the sixteenth century, China was more technically advanced in many ways than was Europe. If China had not sunk into warlordism, then that television show I saw would likely have been discussing how Chinese thought was sweeping the globe. Within a few years, that may yet happen.
Provided that the world doesn't regress back into a Dark Age, these "Western" notions will continue to spread. It is simply an inescapable byproduct of industrialization.
Do you agee? I'd like to know your opinions on the subject.
George
P.S. For some free fiction, visit my web page at http://www.checkmatefiction.com
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Posted by gjcondon on 2008-01-02 16:59:41 | Rating: | Views: 67
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I think that Chinese thought can never really take hold as it is FAR to anti-western thought that we all grew up on, no matter how powerful they get. And I really am having my doubts that the big Chinese surge is going to happen. Two reasons: 1) I think as the USSR saw, once you open the window to let some of your ideas out, the wests ideas flow in. China is FAR FAR FAR too closed in a country to ever fully allow that window open. It is a two way street and they know that 2) Despite your predictions I think that the 2008 Olympics will be a PR disaster. there will be protests, the press WILL look at the wrongs but not until the games are over and the press is out of town. I think they will regret they ever sought this out. China has remained that society for thousands of years because they were isolated and I think once they let thought in they will see they want it out.
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Posted by whiteknight
on 2008-01-03 15:05:15
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