Japanese colonialism :: essays research papers

Itis interesting to pick up that only some politicaleconomists emphasize the event that japanese colonialismin Korea played a large part in the development of ahigh-growth economy. In both readings we get to bumpthat Japanese colonialism greatly differed from Europeancolonialism. In one way, this is because 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 unremarkablysee with European colonialism. In Kohlis article we seethat Japan came into Korea at the very beginning of itscolonial rule and transformed the evoke, not safe whencreating speedy stinting growth. I liked this articlein that Kohli took a very systematic approach to writingit, noting the m each steps it took for Korea toindustrialize, as well as noting extensively the extentto which Japan played a role. Bruce Cumings articlewas different in that it looke d more towards Japan,Taiwan, and Korea. In his article, he not only looks atJapan as a colonizer, but overly an industrializer. Ithink that in both of the readings, it is amazing thateach of the countries examined were up to(p) toindustrialize so quickly. Northeast Asia industrializedin only decades, whereas its taken the rest of theworld centuries to do the same. In response to this, itis important to placard the argument around the recountsrole 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 speed Japanhave over Korea was immense. Even w ealthy landowners,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 attempt 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 authority 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