Why Isolationism Is A Disastrous Concept
Isolationism, a topic not so many people are familiar with, is one which has its meaning dug deep in the historical roots of several countries. A concept many have tried but failed. Now it may seem as if this concept doesn’t work but then again, why do several countries keep trying to adopt this theory? Although the fundamental idea of Isolationism may mean countries residing in their respective places with peace and tranquility, Isolationist countries are required to survive with their own resources, hence making it weaker economically and socially at some point.
A failed example of isolationism was China’s attempt to improve their dynasty’s infrastructure. China was planning on enhancing their defensive architecture which could have helped against invasive foreign rulers. Instead, China’s isolation policy in the Qing Dynasty ended the voyages of Zheng He, a popular Chinese explorer who through a series of various voyages, was attempting to find the potential for Chinese colonisation. As a result, China did not have direct foreign influence and power over foreign land and its source of profit. Moreover, it was the wrong time for China to impose its isolation because it was after such a policy when the West began to through industrial revolution.
This resulted in the fall of the Qing Dynasty, which would be later known as the last imperial Chinese dynasty. (1)“In 1757, an imperial order started the policy of self-isolation of China from others, especially Western European Countries. All foreign trade was subject to the control of the Qing authorities and only occurred through Canton(Guangzhou). China’s self-isolation policy contributed to the preservation of reactionary feudal practices and damaged its economic, social and cultural development.”. Despite this incident, China didn’t get really serious about industrialising until the 1970s, so its local resources were all tapped more or less at once. (2)“That served China well until now. China is on the verge of running out-of everything.”
Some would say that the Tokugawa Shogunate was a successful political ideology in Japan as their economy was booming and they were keeping distance from other cultures, but at the same time, trading through strictly controlled gateways with 5 entities. However what many don’t realise is that the Japanese under the Tokugawa shogunate suffered from economic impoverishment, political corruption and rigid class structures.
Since the 18th century, the majority of shoguns(de facto dictators) were poor, and the bakufu(the military government under imperial rule) was corrupt. Consequently, power struggles arose. Since they were situated far from the major urban centers in southwestern Japan, the shoguns’ lavish lifestyle contributed to inflation and widespread discontent among the general public. Although they had gone 212 years without any depictable complaints, their alliance with Matthew Perry formed a relationship which they believed would expand trade on a global scale and benefit countless nations.
To sum it all up, Globalisation is definitely the better option than Isolationism. Although Isolationism could seem to depict a utopian-based solution such as the abolishment of wars and self-preservation, it often doesn’t turn out beneficial for the country. China, Japan and the USA are some popular standout examples of how Isolationism leads to the depletion of a country’s resources.
Sources
Albertovna Khusnutdinova, E., 2019. The Qing Policy of Self-Isolation in China. [ebook] Russia: Kazan Federal University, Russia, p.14. Available at: <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335561242_The_Qing_Policy_of_Self-Isolation_in_China> [Accessed 12 May 2021].
Zeihan, Peter. Disunited Nations: the Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World. Harper Business, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2020.
