Modernization Free Essays

Japanese and western scholars are desperately arguing on the over-all definition of modernization. Japan is a perfect example of a country which is product of modernization. From a rural setting to an industrialized one, that is how modernization occurs. We will write a custom essay sample on Modernization or any similar topic only for you Order Now Modernization changes the lifestyle of people; fashion, work, and mindset. From a conservative type to a liberal one, that is the evolution made by modernization.   Modernization is accompanied by success especially in one country’s economy Japan, a culturally bound country, tremendously transforms itself to a modernized one. The year 1868 is time when Japan decides to be open to western representations and eventually adopt them due to the perception that they were more advanced and preferable. Through the adoption of western ideologies, they can able to compete with other industrialized nations. The modernization of Japan is better explained through studying its history starting from the Meiji period. Western imperialism took political and economical forms.   Politically, the foreign powers obtained many privileges from Japan but all these gains were supported up by Western military superiority. By that Japan’s national right was violated.   Economically, foreign imports into Japan tremendously increased due to the low tariff fixed by the unequal settlements.   By 1870, foreign imports reached 70% of all Japanese trade. Cheap foreign goods, like English textiles, transferred into Japan and bankrupted native Japanese handicraft industries which make Japan suffered from critical balance of payments. Although loans were extended to Japan by Westerners but in return, they still received more privileges from them. . Due to this threat to the country, self modernization of Japan has its way. Strengthening military is one key to oppose the political threats of imperialism consequently â€Å"rich country and strong army† (fokoku kyohei) was the slogan of Meiji modernization in which the final objective   was to build a strong political rule in Japan eventually to be able to get rid of the unequal treaties forced by the Western powers. The Meiji leaders has a fear that Japan would fully embraced westernization and totally turn away traditional ways. They decided to make the country modernized in order to defend it from foreign attacks.   The self-modernization of Japan in the Meiji period has both advantage and disadvantage.   They decided to make the country modernized in order to defend it from foreign attacks.   The self-modernization of Japan in the Meiji period has both advantage and disadvantage. The idea of modernization of Japan by Meiji leaders somehow more a political reason rather than nationalism, which is the disadvantage. Although it can be a political reason, it can also be a military strategy to protect the country from such invaders, which is the advantage one. Japan undergoes step by step process of modernization; starting from modernizing some certain aspects into an over-all modernization.   First transformation is from the military. As an example military reform called for the production of weapons, which only economic reform could successfully were given. At the same time, development of long-term educational, were carried out in order for the people to accept these political, economic, and political aspects. Although preliminary step for modernization was done, there are still some weaknesses that arise such as indirect and incomplete political control over the country at large because the daimyo with their samurai, still ruled the clans, lacking state revenue for complete modernization in which the Meiji government obtained most of its tax income from former Tokugawa lands only, and absence of any national army for the new government depended on only a few western clans (mainly Choshu and Satsuma) for its military force.  Ã‚   In order to strengthen the state, the Meiji government took actions, both negative and positive in which the negative measure was the abolition of feudalism and the positive one was the introduction of modern land taxation and military mobilization. There are still problems arise in strengthening the Meiji state such as dissatisfaction among the poor samurai and hard-pressed peasants led to the outbreak of many local rebellions which were nearly 200 uprisings from 1868 to 1878 and partly because of the new land taxation which consequently had a very serious inflation from 1868 to the early 1880s.and by that he income of both the samurai and the government was badly affected. In terms of economic modernization, the Meiji government had a good foundation to start with because the late Tokugawa commercial economy was successful in which many rich merchants had saved large amounts of capital, and if devoted in modern industries, would greatly stimulate industrialization and secondly, from 1854 (when Japan was opened by the West) to 1868, the Tokugawa shogunate and some other clans had already developed significant ship-building and arms-manufacturing industries and there were already some Japanese engineers and technicians who knew Western technology. By 1870, Japan was still largely an agricultural country and modernized agriculture is the basis of and requirement for successful industrialization in which agricultural students were sent abroad to learn more advanced agricultural techniques, foreign experts were working to give recommendation on agricultural development, importation of new kinds of plants and seeds , and foundation of experimental agricultural stations and agricultural colleges throughout the country to test new methods of planting and advise farmers on new agricultural techniques. As a result, more agricultural products were being exported which contribute to   Japan’s economy as well as farmers in which .many poor tenant-farmers went from the villages to the towns, thereby providing cheap labor for urban industrialization, but as   more and more farmers became tenants, the countryside was increasingly under the control of conservative landlord-merchants. Industrialization placed the necessary foundation of a modern state. As the Meiji government had a strong and modern economy to rely on, the extent of government power was enlarged thus, its efficiency increased.   The rapid industrialization strengthened the Meiji state’s autocratic rule, as it provided new instruments for power concentration. The government could therefore effectively put down internal oppositions and carry out a stronger foreign policy. In the long run, industrialization destroyed Japan’s traditional agricultural economy. First, the local economically self-sufficient village society was returned by increased agricultural commercialization and specialization. Secondly, with greater exchange of goods, capital and even labor, localism of village society broke down thus the village people felt that they belonged not only to the village but to the nation as a whole. Thirdly, industry replaced agriculture as the nation’s most important economic activity. And also, industrialization reduced economic discriminations of the old Tokugawa society. Steadily, however, new concentrations of wealth and power were built up by the zaibatsu, which restricted much of the entire country’s economy. The standard of living was raised due to the improvement of the economic conditions of the people in which in return the people supported the environment. On the other hand, social mobility was help out by which successful industrialists or businessmen became modern Japan’s social leaders.   In terms of educational background, there is a further improvement pre-1868. Before 1870, many of the late Tokugawa schools already taught Western science and technology. Thus the people were better prepared to accept Western knowledge after 1870. A sound basis for attaining more Western knowledge had been set. As years passed by, there is an increase in the literacy of the Japanese. By 1870, nearly half of the male populations were literate. In late Tokugawa times the Meiji leaders were all educated in the Confucian schools that have a Confucian respect for learning and interest for educational modernization. Through education, the government could widen its popular support by the people. From the 1880s on, however, education was used gradually more by the government to teach nationalistic ideas that makes an attempt for the Meiji government   to strengthen   the national and social unity, thus conservation of   national safety in an age of foreign imperialism. Despite of becoming more undemocratic of education due to politics, it is still a great help for them. Still there are problems that arise for it is not that easy for some conservative ones to accept western teaching and there are times that there is lacking of teachers.   To further improved the educational system, the government made bills   such as Education Act of 1879, making   , Education Act of 1886, Imperial Rescript on Education of 1890 , and Authoritarian education after the 1890s until higher universities were established. Education is the key to make good leaders. Political modernization is intensified to retain power of Meiji leaders. Although there is a splitting of power in 1873 by two issues: the question of the composition of the new modern army to be created and the problem of national defense against Western imperialism. There is suppression against the government which makes hard for them to built solid links to the people. Constitutions were made and promulgate to further develop the political modernization. The Meiji constitution 1889 was attained by the Emperor to the people but in contrast to it, the ideal liberal constitution was made. Although the constitution was undemocratic, Japan had at least approved a Western political structure which helped Meiji government become a modern state. Consequently the state is politically strengthened. The achievements of the constitution were not institutionalized The Emperor was above the constitution. who could be influenced by Military leaders and the Genro outside the restrictions of the constitution. The whole constitutional government could easily be turned into a militarist autocracy. Eventhouh there were still that went wrong the transformation of Japan enables them to prove to the whole world that a small country can be powerful one. How to cite Modernization, Essay examples Modernization Free Essays Modernization in this contemporary world gives birth to emerging access to technologies that lead to the growth of social media platforms. The existence of present-day devices provides the creation of applications, programs and other networks that portrays an important role to every individual in terms of convenience. Social media platforms serve as interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the emergence and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. We will write a custom essay sample on Modernization or any similar topic only for you Order Now It provides the ability to create a mere connection in the present society and to the functions of social media. However, social media platforms transmit messages and source of effective connectedness, there are factors that contribute to its negative impacts that affect every individual in the society. The social media platforms would formulate conclusions that want to give emphasis to the factors that cultivate the anxiety within a certain individual with the usage of the media that produces a certain condition of depression. While the Social Media platforms offer a lot of benefits, this will prove that there are instances that they have disadvantages that trigger to doubt, fear or uneasiness and literally to depression. There are studies that would link between spending extended time on social media and experiencing negative mental health outcomes. The benefits of the social media platforms will provide contrast to determine whether these media channels take advantage on the development of modern technologies in the virtual world and just simply produce the impact that would lead to the association of depression and anxiety. The traditional forms of communication are in the modes of television, radio, newspapers, magazines and other printed materials. As time goes by, developments sprouted that leads to the discovery of technology that brings life to modern devices. Advancements are very rampant until social media platforms are created. Different kinds of applications and functions are available to the people to give the easiest accessibility in the form of communication. People grab the opportunities that will lessen their difficulties especially to connect to all individuals in the world in just one click. The social media platforms continue to provide all the needed operations of the people on an everyday basis. In this certain situation, the forms of social media grow depends on the demand of the people. People are introduced to modern devices like cell phones, tablets, laptops, and computers. The growth of social media platforms formed a vital role in the lives of the people. Nowadays, people only think in reaching out to social media platforms in terms of challenges and difficulties because the mere fact that revolves around their mind is that everything can be found on the Internet. The Global Digital Report of 2018, provides a data that shows that there are 7.60 billion of people in the world and the number of internet users worldwide in 2018 is 4.02 billion up 7 percent year-on-year, social media users worldwide comes with 3.20 billion up 13 percent year-on-year and users of mobile phone is 5.14 billion up 4 percent year-on-year. This only exhibits almost half of the total population in the world are now swallowed by the means of the usage of social media. The total data continues to grow that would greatly conclude that social media platforms effectively influence and encourage the people to be updated and enjoy every feature that they can provide. The Delvalle organization classifies the social media platforms into; social networking, microblogging, blogging (publishing websites), photo sharing, video sharing, and crowdsourcing. The Social Networking includes; Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn, Microblogging is composed of; Twitter and Tumblr, Blogging includes; WordPress and Blogger, photo sharing composed of; Instagram, Flickr, Snapchat and Pinterest, Video Sharing includes; YouTube, Vimeo, and Periscope and Crowdsourcing are formed with Ushahidi, Inc. Among these categories, there are applications that made a name on the Internet especially on how they are adopted by the people. According to Digital Guide 11, Facebook is widely considered to be the mother of all social media platforms and its most basic functions consist of providing an outlet for its members to communicate with each other as well as with private companies. The power of social media platforms gives complex perspectives on the range of its usage and the extent of people they have reached out in order to portray interaction in social, economic and even political views. As social media continues to develop, the scope of the people that use its features does not limit however it increases and form a society of innovations and susceptibility. In today’s generations, every individual is much thankful to acquire all the developments from their ancestors that contributes to the idea of transformation and development of new phase and era. People don’t need a lot of effort and hard works to achieve their desires and necessities. Even if you are just sitting down with the presence of modern devices, anything can be access, there a lot of things you can, A lot of the parents told their children that in their times, they have to exert all their strength and perseverance to overcome every challenge in life, unlike in this current situation we are facing, everything can be controlled in your own hands. The situations in the past are the major causes of advancements because there are people who are willing to discover new things and ideas to produce a different kind of impact that would change the world for the better. Sahara Donnely as an entrepreneur in a private company states that â€Å"In every era, cultures go through numerous changes, and in recent years ours have been more impacted than anything else by social media†. The generation today cannot deny the fact that the most influential factor that brings influence and convenience to each and everyone is the discovery of social media platforms. The forms of communication have grown efficiently to unite the people and to make an impact on the progress of the country even in the world with the appearances of the platforms of social media. The website of Webmasterview of Crystal Briscode encloses a statement that â€Å"It is a fact that social media has tremendously changed the way people interact and carry on with their lives†. People are contented with the offerings of social media and they are afraid to offer themselves in the opportunities in the real world. The application of social media platforms serves as an avenue where you can communicate, purchase and even form transactions. The functions of social media help the people to be informed and updated to every activity that made up our environment. The modern technologies and also the products itself through social media platforms brought changes in the habitual practices of an individual and affects also their ability to adapt in terms of the resiliency of life. Social Media platforms have molded the life of every individual to have comfort and happiness. The Internet has its own attributes to enhance the connection within the people. As life continues to provide us with different challenges, we must not be contented with the benefits of social media platforms. It is important to find your own self with your own purpose on this earth. People must not be deprived of the advantages of social media platforms, however, we must acquire the value of learning is able to face every difficulty with confidence. Social media platforms as the major contributors to accessibility and effective communication, they provide risks also in this digital world. The children of this modern generation focus on the benefits of the modern technologies especially on discovery of new gadgets, they are not even expose to their environment. They are lost in their own world and let the social media conquers them. One Report by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK surveyed 1500 young people, ages 14-24, to determine the effects of social media use on issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and body image. The findings show that YouTube had the most positive impact, while Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat all had negative effects on mental health. The social media platforms are used by the people to find connection, acceptance, and happiness that they could not find within their environment. Heavy use of these media channels contributes to other harmful actions and addiction that let every individual be swallowed by the chances of innovations. According to Kessler et al., 2010, Mathers and Loncar, 2006, Depression and Anxiety are associated with substantially increased morbidity and mortality and one of the victims are the young adults and youth who are engaged with social media. It may also be that using a wide variety of different social media platforms subsequently leads to depressive and anxiety symptoms. Participation in many different social media platforms may lead to multitasking between platforms, which is known to be related to poor cognitive and mental health outcomes. (Becker et al., 2013). Another assumption that would provide an explanation to the usage of social media platforms states that a study published online in Computers in Human Behavior on December 10, 2016, found that the use of multiple social media platforms is more strongly associated with depression and anxiety among young adults than time spent online. Every social media platform is a different kind of world, people cannot resist the factors that affect them and leads to mood disorders. The engagement on the Internet does not free an individual to compare and be jealous thus it triggers to a more complex disorder of anxiety and depression. In the book of David Amerland entitled â€Å"The Social Media Mind†, he states, â€Å"Social Media is addictive precisely because it gives us something which the real world lacks; it gives us immediacy, direction, and value as an individual†. The social media platforms serve as our pathway in this digital world, it gives us the enjoyment of accessibility, communication, and entrepreneurial transactions. Anything that we need in our everyday living can be made through the Internet. The current events and opportunities nowadays are driven mostly by social media platforms. Even the modern technologies produced already a platform in the industry, the people behind it must focus also on the negative impacts of these channels to control any disorders that people can acquire because of different factors. Social media platforms serve as an awareness to limit oneself with the benefits they provide and most especially with the conflicts they produce in different circumstances. People in this world must learn how to make an impact on society and not focus on how to impress other people. Anything that can be found in social media platforms that can build anger and boastfulness must be prevented instead people must focus on the positivity in life that would implant the value of happiness and contentedness within themselves so that depression can be control and mitigates its unexpected effects. How to cite Modernization, Papers