Internal Factors In The Development Of Japan Case Study

Nelson Mandela once said, “When people are determined they can overcome anything.” This line helps reveals that an individual must have determination and the spirit to strive, in order to overcome the obstacles. However, things were different for developing countries. As time passed on, development became an essential element for countries in order to progress, in which they could have done anything to overcome difficulties that came in their way. But, certain internal factors played a key role in the lag of development of developing countries. Even the determination like Mandela stated didn’t help these countries to develop until later. Internal factors such as the caste system and traditional Japanese structure were weakness from the countries

Japan had a traditional society which gave great importance to powerful military caste. For example, as stated in chapter five in Barrington Moore’s text “Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy,” “Beneath the daimyo was the main body of samurai, or warriors, among whom there were divide variations in power and wealth” (Moore 232). This line by Moore reveals the position of classes that were in Traditional Japanese society. Samurai’s were warriors and they dominated the Japanese government, feudal system of Japan, and early-modern Japan. The samurai’s were trained for military tactics. Where on the other hand, Daimyo were lords who ruled over others and most powerful under the Shogun. Also, it is made clear that these two classes had vast amounts of power since they were the highest class and helped maintain order in Japan. As a result, since Daimyos were so dependent on the merchants and farmers they did not have the ability to move from it since there higher authority didn’t allow it. The merchants did not have any political or legal freedom from the feudal government. As a result, there was no rural society in urban capitalist because of the social classes that wanted to keep their order in society. In addition, as stated in chapter 17, “Culture and Change in the Third World”, the author reveals the change that is brought in the world and the connection

For example as stated in the article, “The Confucian Ethic and Economic Growth” by Herman Khan “…Confucian societies uniformly promote in the individual and the family sobriety, a high value on education… A properly trained member of a Confucian culture will be hardworking, responsible, skillful… and creative in helping the group… There is much less emphasis on advancing individual (selfish interests)” (Kahn 78-79). This line reveals that having Confucianism values in traditional Japan reveals how individuals feel about morals, and hierarchical order in society that would prevent development since most Japanese focused more on their government and society. This once again explains that for individuals in traditional society life was all about being with your family in the social class that you belong without any rebellious attitude. As a result, there was less emphasis on becoming successful in one’s own life since the real central idea concerned around society. As a result, of Confucianism caused individuals in Japan to work collectively, for the benefit of the higher authority or people in command such as the samurai’s. As a result, individuals didn’t break away from their class and ahead their way upwards from the traditional system towards freedom and more advancement through the use of technology instead of work being performed by farmers or