MLA-East Africa History Paper

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East Asia History paper

Introduction

China, South Korea, and Japan have transformed into modernity, putting Asia into the

global spotlight when it comes to transformation. Many researchers have shown greater interest

in understanding the factors that propelled these countries from what they were during the

second half of the 19th century into giant and highly grown economies today. Leadership often

emerges in the studies as a critical force in the economic, social, and political changes in the

country, which are responsible for the resounding position that these countries occupy when it

comes to economic growth and modernization. The primary purpose of this paper is to examine

the leadership factor, with particular attention on the leaders who propelled the three countries

into glory. Political leadership and philosophies were significant forces in supporting

transformations of the three countries.

The Modernization of China

China has a large economy, which explains the transformations that have taken in the

country since the beginning of the 20th century. The three leaders who transformed China in a

modern country are Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Deng Xiaoping. Mao Zedong was born in

1893 in a peasant family, located in Hunan province at a place called Shaoshan. He became a

teacher. Zedong later moved to Beijing where he worked in the university as a librarian. Mao

founded the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As a Chairperson of the CCP, Zedong helped in

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the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, contributing to numerous political reforms

that transformed China. Asian for Educators listed some of Zedong’s achievements, which

include the collectivization of agriculture, land reform, and the expansion of medical services

(par. 2). Zedong could have emerged as one of the best leaders, but his leadership approach,

rooted in his determination to suppress the challengers, painted him as a failure.

Born in 1904, Deng Xiaoping was one of the leaders of CCP. He was appointed to

prominent positions in the Chinese government in 1950s and 60s. His fortunes turned for worst

during the Cultural Revolution, where he was sacked and his family subjected to persecution. He

got a reprieve later in 1976 after the death of Mao Zedong. Asian for Educators examines that

Deng Xiaoping assumed leadership from Mao Zedong, with his primary agenda being turn back

the country to the path of economic development that had been disturbed during Mao’s latter

years in power (par. 12). Deng Xiaoping is famous for the assertion that practice is the primary

criterion of truth. He further asserted that China would attain a path of economic development

through experimentation using alternative production forms and entrepreneurial activity.

Zhou Enlai lived between 1898 and 1976. He was a prominent leader of the communist

movement. Having been born in an upper class family, Enlai had socioeconomic privilege,

enabling him to become well educated and enlightened. Enlai’s notable involvement in Chinese

politics was noted during the May Fourth Movement. He travelled to Europe in 1920s for a work

study, a trip that enabled him to meet and intermingle with other people, who became leaders in

the CCP. He later became a member of the CPP, taking an active role in the activities if the

party. Enlai had an active role in the CCPs effort to reach to hostile factions. According to Asian

for Educators, Enlai represented CCP in negotiations with the nationalists. In 1949, Zhou

founded the People’s Republic, becoming the leader of Government Affairs, State Council and

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later occupying the influential position of foreign minister (par. 9). His style of leadership

fostered multilateral relations, which were essential for trade development.

Japan’s Modernization

Japan’s modernization cannot be fully explained without mentioning Iwakura Tomomi,

in what is famously called the Iwakura Mission. Nish examines that Tomomi set a mission,

where a total of 51 Meiji government leaders moved to fifteen different countries (1). The

leaders were drawn from different sectors, including military finance, mining, education,

agriculture, industry, and culture. The mission helped Japan to discover and implement the

developments that were happening in other countries. Iwakura wanted to expose Japan to the

developments in other countries, especially in Europe. The mission was a motivational force for

the country, which felt challenged and started taking initiatives to gain the progress that had been

seen in other regions.

Borin in Kagoshima, Ōkubo Toshimichi lived between 1830 and 1878. Toshimichi is one

of the leaders that founded and advanced the agenda of Meiji restoration. Toshimichi was a

revolutionary leader, who gained government power, which he used to implement crucial

policies such as new industry and land tax reform. The first step of Japan to modernize resonated

from Toshimichi’s industry policy. He wanted Japan to establish many industries to enhance

production. He served as the minister of finance, a positon that gave him room to develop and

implement rapid economic reforms oriented towards industrial development.

Saigo Takamori was born 1827 in Kagoshima and died in 1877. Similar to Toshimichi,

Takamori had a revolutionary mind, making him one of the leaders of the Meiji Restoration.

Garcia explained Takamori’s devotion to reforms in Japan saw him actively participate in the

restoration. Takamori started to modernize his domain while still young (par. 2). They included a

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research of the establishment of a railway, the construction of an iron industry, and the

fabrication of steamships. This happened in 1851 while working in Edo, Tokyo.

Korea’s Modernization

The three leaders that modernized Korea are Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, and Kim

Dae-jung. Roh Tae-woo was born in 1932. He became a military leader for an extended period.

His active participation in the South Korean government after the Chin Doo Hwan coup

culminated a 17-year sentence. He served as the 13th president of the Republic of Korea, having

been elected in 1987. Tae-woo was a supporter of democratization, which saw the country open

relations with other nations worldwide, including the United States. Democracy helped South

Korea to foster foreign relations, in turn, opening the country to trade and investment.

Kim explains that Kim Young-sam was behind the growth of the cultural competitiveness

of Korea (5521). In an address at the Seventh Conference for the Promotion of New Economy,

Kim demanded cultural competitiveness in the midst of globalization and information age. He

launched the segyehwa, policy, which stood for globalization. The policy was intended at

helping Korea to actively respond to the pressures of development imposed by other powers in

the world. Kim proposed a five year cultural development plan, including the establishment of

cultural industries, the development of the technology and information industry, and the

transformation of the media.

In his first address to the public in support of Hallyu, Kim Dae-jung, emphasized the

growth of the tourism industry. Dae-jung showed strong support for the cultural industry. The

support featured in the speech he delivered during the National Liberation Day. According to

Kim, Kim Dae-jung had an economically-inclined mind, even though he came to power at a time

when the culture of Korea was booming in the entire Asian region (5522). Kim Dae-jung

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promoted what can be termed as a neoliberal arrangement in the government of Korea. The goal

of the neo-liberal approach was to aid in the recovery of the country from the 1997–98 economic

crisis.

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Works Cited

Asian for Educators. Three Chinese Leaders: Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Deng Xiaoping,

2009, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1950_leaders.htm. Accessed 01 Jun.

2019.

Garcia, Arturo Galindo. Who Was Saigo Takamori, the Last Samurai?. The National

Geographic, 2017, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-

history/magazine/2017/09-10/saigo-takamori-the-last-samurai/. Accessed 01 Jun. 2019.

Kim, Tae Young. "Cultural policy in the Korean Wave: An analysis of cultural diplomacy

embedded in presidential speeches." International Journal of Communication vol. 10,

2016, pp. 5514–5534.

Nish, Ian. The Iwakura mission to America and Europe: A new assessment. Vol. 6. Routledge,

2008.

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