The Significance of Semi Colonialism in China - Essay Example

Chinese History The significance of semi-colonialism in China China as one of the world’s largest nations with a population of about 475 million people and a territorial size of 10 million square kilometers remained under semi-colonialism till the Second World War. Despite this nation being independent, it still remained an economically dependent state on three main imperialist powers. These imperialist powers were the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The three nations fought amongst themselves and against other capitalist nations for the “right” to exclusively exploit both natural and human resources and convert China into their own colony. Chinese semi-colonialism was viewed as both a historical moment mainly specified in relation to European and more generally international capitalist political, economic, and cultural projects in the modern era and as a trope for domination, violation, and resistance. Dominance in semi-colonial China was doubly articulated. It stood, on the one hand, for imperialism’s power to limit the sovereignty of the Chinese state and, thereby, advance its own interests. On the other hand, it stood for the power exercised by the indigenous elite over the productive classes. Violation was inherent in both of these forms of dominance since they came to be articulated along similar ideological lines in early twentieth century. Another cause for violation was caused by lack of hegemony. The lack of hegemony is the most understandable and obvious in the case of imperialism, since its formal power was limited and partial. Indeed, the Chinese semicolonialism was treated as a political and concept which denoted a constellation of interventions, institutions, practices, and policies through which foreign imperialists had to establish beneficial positions and semiautonomous operations. They had no interest of ruling but to explore the country economically. The established positions ranged from aggression and equal treaties to spheres of influence and semicolonial agencies like the customs bureau. The result was something more than a mere advantageous position, especially in certain sectors of the economy. By the end of 1920, foreigners had taken control of 99 percent if Chinese iron ore, 76 percent of the coal, 92 percent of the railways, and 73 percent of the steam tonnage on the Yangzi. Despite the disintegrating effects of semicolonialism, it led to the rise of several objective conditions and created more room for developing its capitalist production. The destruction of the Chinese natural economy gave rise to commodity market for capitalism, and the poverty and bankruptcy of many handicraftsmen and peasants provided labor. In fact, some, bureaucrats, landlords, and merchants began investing in the Chinese economy way back in 60s and towards the end of 19th century, under what was termed as the stimulus of foreign capitalism and as a result of some gaps in the feudal economic system. Towards the end of 20th century, China experienced its first ever national capitalism that took a step forward. The relationship between Chinese cities and countryside China is one of the most populated nations in the world. Despite being a country with the highest population in the world, its population is mostly concentrated in cities and towns. The population living in the country is so small when compared to that living in cities. The reason for cities being more populated than the countryside is because of the attraction of job opportunities. As early as 1980, Chinese cities were occupied by less than 20 percent of the population. However, from analyzing the rate at which the Chinese are flocking the cities, it is predicted that by 2030 the Chinese cities will be occupied by 70 percent of the population. On the onset of the global financial crisis in early 2009, many migrants who had moved to the cities gave up looking for jobs and moved back to the countryside. Their movement back to rural areas was also contributed by a decline in the volume of Chinese exports. For a long period of time, the enormous gap between those living in cities and those in the countryside has remained one of the China’s intractable complications. As many of the most powerful works of grassroots history argue, the origin of China’s gap between cities and the countryside can be traced back to what is commonly referred to as the Mao Zedong era. With Mao’s promise to reduce the gap between those working in cities and the countryside peasants, his revolutionary policies greatly got misfired and they ended provoking the greater discrepancies between cities and the countryside, often to the disadvantage of those in villages. The relationship of China’s cities and the countryside also influenced the fight for liberation for Tianjin. In the late 1948 and early 1949, residents of Tianjin awaited their impending liberation with lots of uncertainty. Many people’s fears were allayed when the Communist takeover of Tianjin proceeded without massive disorder. The relatively disciplined soldiers and cadres who entered Tianjin in January 1949 were a welcome contrast to previous occupiers. The role of women in early twentieth-century The change in the role and position of Chinese women has taken place in the twentieth century. Their political and cultural views are because of globalization. The influence of Confucianism dominated the society. This comprised morality character social relations and the status quo. It ensured the humanity and equal treatment for both genders. However, neo-Confucianism led people in the wrong direction. Imperial leaders applied this doctrine in the social hierarchy. Therefore, leading to the oppression of women in social realms. It was after Mao’s death that the started the communism error. The new communist party advocated women rights at national levels. This led to the modern day women working in factories and organizations. This sensitized women from their bound roles in homes and enlightened them on possibilities of obtaining the same roles as men. However, women did not neglect the role of bringing up children and cooking for their families. Traditionally, Confucianism highlighted the differences between sexes, therefore creating a split in the roles each undertook. Older women taught the young girls on how to be submissive to any male figure in their lives. First, they would be submissive to their fathers, and then husband and later sons. This was the culture and the norm. The male figure was the superior species. The male species therefore took leadership roles and formed majority, if not all, members of the wise men. The sign of oppression documented was foot binding. This is a ritual carried out on the Chinese women. This depicted that community bound the women. The ceremony entailed breaking the foot and toes then tying them together. Foot binding attracted men towards marrying such women. Though this was excruciatingly painful, women had to under this ritual. The community thought of women who had undergone foot binding to be mature and responsible for their sons. Once foot-bound, the women would wear an extraordinary shoe to maintain the shape and size of the foot. Foot binding ritual limited the roles women undertook in the society. Once foot-bound, it became difficult for women to partake their roles. It would be extremely painful for women to walk or even go to the farm. Meaning for those of lower status in the society, their wives would have to feel the pain since they had no option other than to work on the farm. The lower classes in the communities developed opposition against foot binding. More women realized the two roles had them by their neck. Therefore, lower class women opted to maintain their roles in the families. To always provide and cater for their children’s needs. From the farm, women would be able to offer food to their families. Bound women became a tradition for the high-class families who had helps. Women trafficking were a common practice. Women lacked correct documents and papers making them vulnerable. This allowed men to purchase women and bar them from leaving their homes. This was a form of slavery. Despite their families and duty to the children, these kidnaped women had no alternative other than to serve in their new dwelling places. However, with Mao’s government men who trafficked women and held them captive were jailed and faced execution in the court. In conclusion, men were superior because they ensured continuity of the family name. Women would adopt new families once they married. The onset of communism led to dropping the old traditions. Communism destroyed the clan-based system and encouraged women to undertake active roles in family, leadership, and even working in organizations. The constitution enabled women jointly to own property in marriages or even file a divorce in the case of abuse. Lu Xun view on how to save China Lu Xun documented and wrote a ‘madman’s diary’. The journal depicted the monster eating the society amongst them. Lu illustrates the words ‘eat people’ in between the lines. Lu points out at Confucianism that is barring the community from development. Xuns compares the traditional China to an iron house. Lu is sure that traditions blind people from addressing the matter holding them back. The Madman’s Diary depicts a mad man who tries to point the irony of the society set up. The community idea of women not allowed to learn in schools is barbaric. Lu tries to use irony to show the madman was not crazy. Instead, the society does not see the wrong. Lu tries to advocate equal treatment and fairness in education and professionalism. Lu is of the opinion that adopting the Western culture would grant China freedom from its old traditions. Lu at the end of the piece, he says, ‘Perhaps there are still children who haven’t eaten men? Save the children?’ Meaning, there is still hope for the future generations may change the society norms. Confucianism is the primary cause of inequality. With the future generations, the parents might have lost the traditions thus allowing the coming generation to lead comfortably equal lives. In Lu’s opinion, women are not stay-at-home people nor are they there to work on the farms. Lu feels there is more to what women can bring to the table. In the western set up Lu shows how women undertake leadership and education in higher institutions of learning. Read More