Q. “Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experience. Discuss. [10 Marks, UPSC-2013]

Q. “Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experience. Discuss. [10 Marks, UPSC-2013]

Ans:

Industrial Revolution is the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. This process began in Britain in the 18th century and from there spread to other parts of the world. While Japanese industrial revolution started late after the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century. ©crackingcivilservices.com

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It had many characteristics which were different from west:

• West’s industrialization was based on scientific discoveries and inventions. West had to discover all technologies on its own.
  • Japan started from where West was there at that point in time. They reverse engineered most of the technologies and machines.
• Japanese industrialization was much faster that that of west. It was became decently industrialized within span of 30 years. 
• The normal pattern of industrialization as in the Western countries has been a progress from light industry, like textiles to mining and metallurgical tor chemicals to mass produced goods.
  • In Japan railways developed even before the iron and steel industry as the materials and components were imported. The textile industry was established almost simultaneously with iron and steel, shipbuilding, etc.
• The entry costs for early industrialisers like Britain, using relatively cheap technology and with few competitors, were far lower than for those that industrialised later like Japan.
• West’s industrial areas were rich in both coal and iron. Japan on the other hand was poor in these resources and was mainly reliant on imports. So Japan’s heavy machinery industry came up closer to the coast.
• West had seen agriculture revolution and commercial revolution before IR. It wasn’t the case in Japan.
• In west, the capital for industrial revolution came from colonies and was voluntarily invested by large landholders and businessmen. In Japan, it was a forced extraction by the state from the agricultural sector.
  • Japan didn’t rely on colonies to finance its IR in early period.
• State played a very important role in Japanese IR whereas in west (especially Britain) it was private sector led.
  • e.g. A ministry of industry was created in 1870 to establish overall economic policy and operate certain industries. Model factories were created to provide industrial experience, and an expanded education system offered technical training.
  • The industries could be established because the state was willing to bear the burden through subsidies and protection. The criteria used was the national interest rather than the economic viability of the project.
• The growth of the modern sector in Japan had the close links with military demands. When military expenditure increased then the modern sector grew as it did during the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars.
• In Japan, the ethical dimension of economic activity was also equally important. The profit by itself could not be a goal. The businessmen, because of the influence of Confucian thought, saw service to the state as a valid and important goal. This enabled the government to work closely with business leaders for commonly acceptable goals.
  • This ideological linking of the people to the state through the ideas of loyalty to the Emperor was a crucial factor in the economic development of Japan as it encouraged self-sacrifice for the nation.
• The development policies exacted a toll both from the people who had to bear the burden of sacrifice as well as from Japan’s neighbours who had to suffer the consequences of her expansionist policies. The militarism and expansionism were intimately connected to the successful economic growth of Japan.
• Foreign loans were kept to a minimum as the Meiji leaders were wonied about Japan losing its sovereignty. They used these loans at a few occasions but growth was financed by exports and by keeping internal consumption at low levels.
• The Meiji state protected the economy from foreign competition and actively aided and developed indigenous industry.
• Western products were better in quality and sold worldwide. Japanese products were inferior in quality and so couldn’t sell in Europe.
• Some western countries (like Russia)  made repeated efforts to enable industrialization but industrialization spread more slowly there, and the economy remained overwhelmingly agricultural for a long time.

While there was some similarity as well:

• Industrialization brought with it population which disturbed the family system in Japan like it did in western countries.
  • New Western values also crept into Japanese society, which tended to erode the social system based on Confucian principles.
• Like in west, industrialization of Japan was linked to the development of imperialism in Japan.

Thus, Japanese industrialization was markedly different from the west. However, Japan did imitated the technologies, education system, and other positive aspects from the western countries. ©crackingcivilservices.com