Difference Between Two of the Most Influential Nations of the World - Essay Example

Differences between China and America The United States and China are among the most influential countries in the world today and this is because of both the political and economic advantages that they have managed to build over the years. The ability of these two nations to project their influence across the globe is based mainly on the strong cultural backgrounds as well as the work ethic that they both possess, ensuring that they are able to retain their positions against all odds. While these countries may be very influential across the globe, they are very different from one another, with each possessing its own national characteristic that enables them to stand out from the rest of the world. Among the biggest differences between China and America are their cultural values and these have been cultivated over a long period. China is an extremely conservative nation with most of the cultural practices of its people being influenced to a certain degree by the teachings of the philosopher Confucius. This influence has been paramount in China for over two millennia and has guided the Chinese nation throughout all its incarnations. The culture of the United States, on the other hand, is very liberal with individuals living their lives as they see fit, making Americans very independent people from a young age. Moreover, Chinese culture dictates that younger people be subservient and submissive towards their elders, obeying them without question. Young Chinese people tend to be obliged to take care of their elders until the latter die and in most cases, elderly Chinese are very revered in society. This is not necessarily the case in America where younger people tend to live their own lives without any consideration to the wishes of their elders (Weston). The elderly people in America tend to be highly independent and often live by themselves; going into homes for the elderly when they can no longer take care of themselves rather than living with their children. Another difference that arises between America and China is their systems of education, which are in many ways managed diversely. The Chinese system of education tends to be slightly more difficult than that of America because students have to undergo a rigorous system of examinations almost at every level of their education to ensure that they are competent enough to proceed to the next level. The American system, on the other hand, is less rigorous with the number of people whose performance in school is below average being extremely high. In China, parents tend to be very involved in the educational welfare of their children and more often than not, it is the parents rather than the students, who make decisions concerning what the latter should study, especially in the higher levels of education (Chunli 30). This is not the case in America where students have a greater say on what they want to become in life and take those subjects that they believe will help them in the course they have set for themselves. The Chinese education system is always focused on the development of the skills and knowledge that are necessary for the benefit of the state. However, the number of Chinese who get into the tertiary level of education tends to be very low in proportion to its massive population. The American system, on the other hand, is designed to allow the freedom of choice to its students to pursue their dreams and because of this; a large proportion of the American population is literate and has achieved some form of tertiary education. The political systems of America and China are very different from the former being highly democratic while the latter is a tightly controlled state. China is a country whose politics is completely dominated by the Communist Party which not only controls the government but also all the structures within the state (Kagan 90). This is not the case in America where there are strong democratic institutions and where there are regular elections, with the elected individuals being accountable to the people rather than to their political parties. In China, in order for an individual to succeed in the society, he or she should be a member of the Communist Party, because it is membership, which allows one to get the most lucrative jobs in state institutions. The situation in America is different because individuals in this country more often than not get jobs in the public sector and administration based on their qualifications rather than membership in any particular political party. This means that neither of the two dominant political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, have significant influence in employment in the public sector unless it is a political appointment. In China, the economy is often under the tight control of the state with a majority of the big corporations in the country being state-owned and in most cases being monopolies. The success of the Chinese economy over the years has been attributed to the involvement of the state, with the latter being a major player within it. The American government does not have the same level of control over its economy like that of China and this is because the former has let its economy grow as it will, supporting growth through favorable policies towards private businesses. It is because of the liberal policies of the American government that it has been able to develop a strong economy that has come to dominate that of the globe. In conclusion, the discussion above has shown three of the differences between two of the most influential nations in the world. Among these are their cultural values that have been cultivated over a long period. Moreover, the systems of education of these countries are very different from one another because of the styles of management that they have adopted. Finally, the political systems of China and America have been discussed, with the main differences being that the latter is highly democratic while the former is a tightly controlled state. Despite the differences between them, China and America can be counted among the most successful states in the globe, often vying with each other for influence over less powerful nations. Works Cited Chunli, Xia. "Migrant Children and the Right to Compulsory Education in China." Asia-Pacific Journal on Human Rights and the Law 7.2 (2006): 29-74. Kagan, Robert. The World America Made. New York: Knopf, 2012. Weston, Liz. "Will you get Dad's nursing-home bill?" MSN Money 18 July 2012 Read More