Modern Asia

Ch 24 Notes

24.1 Communist China

• Chinese Revolution– Communists take over after long civil war between Nationalists and communists

• By 1949 Mao Zedong est the People’s Republic of China– Chiang Kai Shek and Nationalists fled to Taiwan•Est the Republic of China there

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China Under Mao

• 1955 Chinese gov launched a program to build a socialist society– Land taken away from lords and given to poor peasants

– Most private farmland was collectivized•Attempted to increase food production which would allow more people to work industry

– Most industry and commerce was nationalized

Great Leap Forward (1958)

• Collective farms turned into communes– >30,000 people lived and worked together

• Mao hoped would lead to true communist (classless) society

• Proved to be a disaster– Food production decreased due to bad weather and people’s hatred of system

– Almost 15 mill starved to death– 1960 gov began breaking up communes into collective farms with some private plots

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Mao’s Dream

• A permanent revolution where China could achieve the final stage of communism = a classless society

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Cultural Revolution (1966)

• Mao’s Little Red Book was source of knowledge in all areas– Red Guards formed to further the revolution• Tried to eliminate the “Four Olds”

– Old ideas– Old culture– Old customs– Old habits

• Some of Red Guard attacked people• Many people did not support them and wanted a permanent revolution

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China After Mao

• Died in September 1976• Practical-minded reformers led by Deng Xiaoping seized power– Ended the Cultural Revolution

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Deng Xiaoping’s Policies

• Four Modernizations: focused on advancing China in 4 ways– Industry– Agriculture– Technology– National defense

Updating China

• Had been isolated for 20 years– Government invited foreign investors into China to help make up for that

– Thousands of Chinese students sent abroad to study science, technology, and modern business techniques

New Agricultural Policy

• A little capitalism was allowed:– Collective farmers could lease land to peasant farmers

– Anything produced on the land beyond amount of “rent” could be sold on the private market

– Peasants allowed to make goods and sell them to others

Modernization Worked

• Overall, policy was a success• Many complained that it failed because it didn’t create a democracy– New leaders still did not allow direct criticism of the Communist Party

More Problems in late 1980s

• More people studied abroad• More information reached highly educated Chinese people

• Economic improvements led to pressure for better living conditions and more freedom to choose jobs in the cities after graduation

• Rising inflation led to discontent among salaried workers, especially in the cities

• Corruption and special treatment of officials and party members led to criticism

Tiananmen Square

• Students gathered to protest in May of 1989– Called for an end to corruption – Led a mass demonstration in Beijing

• Deng Xiaoping ordered tanks and troops into the square to squash the demonstration

• Some killed• Outraged many

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China’s Relations with the West

• Strained relations– Human rights violations– Its determination to unify with Taiwan

– Its increasing military power

• China does maintain diplomatic relations with the West

Social Changes Under Communism

• Women’s roles– Not allowed to participate in politics– New marriage law in 1950 allowed women equal rights with men

– New regime tried to destroy the influence of the traditional family system because it undercut loyalty to the state•Similar to USSR

• Children encouraged to report parents who said anything against the system

After Mao’s Death

• Shift away from revolutionary fervor and return to family traditions– Meant better living conditions– Parents could choose own names for children, not patriotic names

– Clothing choices also changed more toward Western fashions

Shifting Balance of Power in Asia

• In 1950s relations between China and the Soviet Union began to deteriorate– In the 60s their military units often clashed along their border

• China had internal problems causing it to focus on relations with USA– 1972: Nixon became 1st president to visit the People’s Republic of China since its creation in 1949

– 1979: diplomatic relations est between China and US

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Relations with China

• During 1980s relations between China and the Soviet Union improved

• In 1990s, China began to play a more active role in Asian affairs

• In the 200s, China is still strengthening trade relations around the world– In 2002 China joined the World Trade Organization

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24.2 India, Pakistan, Bangladesh

• India– After WWII the leaders of India realized that British India would have to be divided into 2 countries•India – Hindu•Pakistan – Muslim

– Would be separated into 2 regions with India in between

Gaining Independence

• 1947 India and Pakistan became independent• Millions of people migrated to areas where their religion would be more accepted

• Millions died as a result of the mass migrations

• Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated in January of 1948

• Ceylon, off coast of India, also became independent in 1947– 1972 changed name to Sri Lanka– Many ethnic struggles exist there

India

• Congress Party led by Nehru– Nehru worked closely with Gandhi for Indian independence

• Under Nehru’s leadership– Gov took ownership of major industries, utilities, and transportation (socialism)

– Private enterprise was permitted at local level

– Farming left in private hands– Industrial production almost tripled between 1950 and 1965

After Nehru died, his daughter Indira Gandhi became

prime minister• Faced 2 problems

– Biggest problem: huge populationg rowth• During 1950s and 60s the population grew at a rate of 2% a year

• One result of this was worsening poverty

– Ethnic and religious conflict• Many Sikhs (followers of religion based on both Hindu and Muslim beliefs) lived in Punjab and wanted independence

• Gandhi used military force in 1984 • Some Sikhs wanted revenge and Gandhi was assassinated later that year

Next Prime Minister: Rajiv

• Indira Gandhi’s son• Began some new economic policies

– Encouraged private enterprise and transfer state-run industries into private hands (capitalism)

• He was assassinated in 1991 while he was running for re-election

• Conflict continued between Hindus and Muslims– Ex: long-term dispute over Kashmir

Pakistan

• Early years of its independence were marked by internal conflicts– Growing division between East and West Pakistan

• Many in East Pakistan felt government (based in West Pakistan) was ignoring their needs– 1971 East Pakistan declared its independence

– After civil war, it became Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Pakistan

• Have had trouble establishing stable governments– Have had military officials seize control of civilian government many times

• Both are also quite poor

Afghanistan

• Many similarities to both Asia and Middle East

• Taliban– Islamist militant group that ruled parts of Afghanistan

– Connection to Bin Laden

– Ousted with US war on terror

24.3 Other Asian Nations

• Japan– Occupied by US from 1945 to 1952– MacArthur was in charge– September 1951 occupation ended with treaty signed by US and other former WWII allies that restored independence to Japan

– Another treaty allowed the US to use Japanese bases•Gave US a stronghold in Asia

1947 “MacArthur Constitution”

• Set up a parliamentary gov that maintained armed forces at levels sufficient only for defense

• Emperor’s power greatly reduced• Guaranteed basic civil & political rights – Gave women the right to vote

• Showed a lot of American influence• Today: Japan has a stable democracy

Reforms in Japan

• Land reforms: land sold on easy credit terms to tenant farmers– Created a strong class of independent farmers

• Zaibatsu: large business conglomeration– Supposed to dismantle but only effected 19

– New system created of ties between companies

Reforms Cont.

• Education: new system meant to eliminate aggressiveness, stressed individualism

• Women: right to vote– Encouraged to participate in politics but not = to men

– Paid less than men– Most jobs were in retail or service occupations

Japanese Miracle

• Economic• State Capitalism: central gov plays active role in the economy– Est price and wage policies– Subsidized vital industries

• Very fast economic recovery– Between 1946 and 1967 Japan’s gross national product grew at a rate of 10% a year

– In 2000 their GNP was >Britain and France’s combined and ½ of the USA’s

What caused the economic miracle?

• Cultural factors– Group oriented so they cooperate well

– Hard working and frugal– Highly skilled labor force– Share common values and respond in similar ways to the challenges of the modern world

• Practical reasons– More modern factories since they had to rebuild

– Spend more time at work than in other industrial societies

– Corporations reward innovation and maintain good management-labor relations

• Some say unfair business practices like dumping goods at low prices to break into a foreign market and restrict imports from other countries

Problems Still Exist

• 2 recent prime ministers have been forced to resign over improper financial dealings with business associates

• Questions about textbooks detailing crimes committed by the Japanese government and armed forces in WWII

Other Asian Nations

• Most struggling economically• Few exceptions: 4 Asian Tigers/Little Dragons– South Korea– Taiwan– Singapore– Hong Kong

•Have made significant economic advances

South Korea

• Split from North Korea after Korean War (1950-1953)– More advanced than North Korea

• Officially a democratic government– Have an autocratic leader– People often denied their rights

• Economically: lot of economic development– Samsung, Daewoo, Hyundai (Kia is owned by Hyundai)

Taiwan

• Chiang Kai-shek as leader– Have been disputes over what gov controls it, Chiang Kai-shek’s or the mainland gov of China

• Protected by the US military• Land reform program: peasants could own farmland– Doubled food production

• Local manufacturing and commerce are emerging

• After Kai-shek’s death, gov became more democratic but there are still some questions about its independence

Singapore

• Industrial economy– Based on shipbuilding, oil refineries, and electronics

• Major banking center for South East Asia

• Citizens are demanding a more democratic government

Hong Kong

• Industrial powerhouse• Until 1997, it was under British control

• Now China owns it– Has promised to allow it to live under a capitalist system for 50 years and allow it to be self-governing

Australia and New Zealand

• Culturally more like Europe• Political system based on European models• Some trends tie them more closely to Asia

– > ½ of the immigrants to Australia in recent years are from Asian nations

– 60% of Australia’s export markets in East Asia

• Uncertain as to whether they will become an integral part of the Asia-Pacific region