Most Chinese generally believe that the main reason why China lagged behind the West in modern times was that the Qing Dynasty did not open its borders in a timely manner, trade with the West, and Xi learn its science and technology, liberal democracy, political and economic system, etc. Some people believe that if the Qing Dynasty had opened its doors one or two hundred years earlier and actively exchanged Xi with the West, China might have been able to become a Western-style capitalist power in modern times, avoid land reparations, and achieve a rich country and a strong army. However, this perception is actually untenable.
Britain, for example, has taken the lead in recent history, excelling in the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and even occupying a huge colony. Britain has won almost all wars, has never been defeated and paid reparations, and is far ahead of other countries in terms of science and technology, industry, and education. But why did Britain end up in ruin, losing large swaths of its colonies and becoming a European country again?
Reason 1: Geographical distance causes inconvenience in management.
The British mainland was separated from the colonies by thousands of mountains and rivers, and the vast sea made it very inconvenient to manage, resulting in a lack of recognition of British rule in the colonies. Although Britain has developed technology and a strong navy, this does not make up for the disadvantages of geographical conditions.
Reason 2: Differences in the governance of the colonies.
Unlike the ancient Chinese dynasties, which treated new territories, Britain treated the colonies as cows and slaves, focusing only on economic interests and ignoring other aspects. The lack of in-depth governance of the colonies made the alienation of the colonies an inevitable consequence.
Reason 3: The reckless use of military force, the exhaustion of national strength, and the rise of the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Boer Wars, World War I, and World War II depleted Britain and led to a high level of debt. During World War I, Britain was still powerful, but its debts during World War II could not be relied upon, and the rise of the United States and the Soviet Union exerted pressure, so Britain could only allow its colonies to move towards independence. Eventually, Britain lost all of its colonial territories and became the country that lost the most land in history.
The power and disadvantages of capitalism.
Capitalism does have great power in raising social productivity, but its essence is capital-based and everything serves capital. Western powers such as Britain have rapidly increased productivity through capitalist means, but this also means that only a few people have profited, and the majority have become victims. This unfair distribution of benefits is difficult to maintain for a long time, and eventually leads to the intensification of social contradictions.
The Key to Success: Reflections on China's Modern History.
China's modern history is not a failure compared to that of the United Kingdom, but it seems to have failed most of the time, and finally turned the tables against the wind through a bloody counterattack. China should draw lessons from its own history, and instead of blindly pursuing the so-called success of the West, it should find a development path that suits the country's realities according to its own national conditions.
Conclusion: Get out of the trap of capitalism and create Chinese-style success.
The history of Britain teaches us that capitalism, while it can increase productivity rapidly, is also accompanied by social inequity and long-term instability. In order to get rid of the trap of capitalism, China should persist in independent innovation, carry forward Chinese civilization, and achieve all-round social development. Only by finding a path that suits its own national conditions can China achieve a truly rich country and a strong army and move towards a successful future.
Modern Chinese History: Learning from Failures and Seeking a Path to Success.
This article deeply analyzes a common view of China's modern history by most Chinese, and points out the shortcomings of the view of "opening up the country in advance and learning Xi from the Western model" by using the United Kingdom as an example. The argument of the article is not only strong and well-founded in fact, but also deeply excavates the deep-seated reasons behind historical events, which is thought-provoking.
First of all, the article clearly points out that even if China opens its doors ahead of schedule and learns Xi from the experience of the West, it may not be able to avoid the fate of land cession and reparations, loss of power and humiliation of the country. Through the analysis of British history, the influence of geographical conditions on the destiny of the country is emphasized, so that people can more clearly understand the objective existence and constraints in historical development.
Secondly, the article provides an in-depth analysis of the shortcomings of capitalism. Through the experience of Britain, the author points out that although capitalism can rapidly increase social productivity, its unfair distribution of benefits has led to the intensification of social contradictions, and finally caused Britain to lose large colonies. This perspective provides a profound reflection on the current inequality in Chinese society, and reminds us to pay more attention to social equity and people's well-being in economic development.
The article further elaborates on the uniqueness of China's modern history, emphasizing that China seemed to fail most of the time, but ultimately succeeded in counterattacking through bloody counter-killing. This historical fact has injected confidence and firmness into China's path of modernization, reflecting the confidence of the Chinese people in their own strength and their expectations for the future.
Finally, the article concludes that China should learn lessons from its own history and not blindly pursue the Western development model, but should embark on a development path that is in line with the country's realities according to its own national conditions. This view is particularly important in the context of the current international situation. China should not only learn Xi from the advanced experience of the West, but also maintain a deep understanding of its own culture and traditions, and form a path of modernization with Chinese characteristics.
Overall, this article provides an instructive perspective through an in-depth analysis of China's recent history and the British experience. As an ancient civilization with a long history, China needs to pay attention to learning from the experience of others while maintaining an understanding of its own advantages and characteristics in its modern development. In the tide of globalization, finding a path of modernization with Chinese characteristics and achieving economic prosperity and social progress is a major issue that China must face and solve.
Disclaimer: The above content information is ** on the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or insinuate any real country, political system, organization, race, or individual. The above content does not mean that the author of this article agrees with the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any issues arising from the above or related issues, and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.
If the content of the article involves the content of the work, copyright**, infringement, rumors or other issues, please contact us to delete it. Finally, if you have any different thoughts about this event, please leave a message in the comment area to discuss!