How Modern Japan Is Described in Textbooks around the World
(Select a Country to review excerpts)
Europe ……………
Austria,
France,
Germany,
Switzerland,
UK
Asia ……………… China,
India,
Indonesia,
Korea,
Malaysia,
Russia,
Singapore,
Vietnam
North America ……
Mexico,
USA
South America ……
Brazil
EUROPE
Switzerland
Title:
World History: From the Viennese Congress to the Present
Pages: 327 & 328
Publisher: Orell Fussli Verlag, Zurich, Switzerland, 2004
Excerpt:
Economic Power Japan
Japan‘s record fast move to the top of the world economy was interrupted only for a short period by its defeat in the Second World War and by the oil crisis in 1973.
In the fifties, Japan achieved an annual economic growth rate of 18 percent in the industrial production sector and a growth rate of 9 percent in the national income sector. Successively, Japan surpassed the European industrial nations France, Great Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Although very dependent on imported oil and foreign trade, Japan bounced back very quickly from the oil crisis in the seventies, generated an enormous balance of payments surpluses and became the largest creditor in the world. All of this happened thanks to the political stability of a parliamentary democracy in which the same party ruled for 38 years. Japan consciously did not want to become a military- and political world power. It decided to place itself behind American protection. Only after the American-Chinese policy of rapprochement (in the seventies) did Japan begin to take its own safety interests more seriously.
The reasons for Japan‘s unique economic development can be found in its history and culture. Japanese industrialization goes far back to the 19th century when the distance to the then leading industrialized countries was still relatively small. Japanese development had been advanced with its own means and with its own objectives whereby the state and private sector cooperated very closely. Japanese society saved and invested a high portion of its national income and spent (after the Second World War) few resources on the military and armament. Additionally, Japan was able to curb its population growth considerably. The Japanese “Economic Miracle” had been created by a highly qualified workforce whose mentality was ideal for this industrial society.
The Japanese combine high determination to perform with organizational ability and adaptability to such an amazing degree that they can integrate foreign values with their own culture. The traditional, disciplined group behaviour could be transferred smoothly into the industrial environment and this led to a strong identification of the workers with their company. The latter takes over cultural and social functions in society; whereas in Europe this is fulfilled by the welfare state. These functions, however, create differences and gaps in social security which divide the workforce into two classes. Women, old people and employees of small companies belong to the underprivileged class.
Other disadvantages of the Japanese model are the inconsiderate environmental exploitation, the extreme pressure to produce and to train and cultural foreign infiltration.
The Asian Crisis
The euphoria of the economic boom of the Asian industry took a sudden nosedive in 1997/1998. The economic crisis revealed the dark side of the Asian economic miracle. The crisis undermined not only the stability of the mostly authoritarian Asian regimes, but it also threatened the prosperity of the entire world economy.
The causes of the crisis lay, among other things, in the speculative distension of the economy, uncovered credits, huge prestige products, irresponsible indebtedness and overestimated currencies.
Those who emerged through favouritism (supported by the ruling powers), were usually incapable of self-evaluation and damage control. Collapsed stock exchanges, dramatically higher unemployment rates, and social unrest were some of the results of this crisis.
