Defensive Developmentalism - Essay Example

? Defensive developmentalism Defensive developmentalism as a thought assumes that the Asian and African nations resolved on practicing leadership styles assimilated to those of the European nations. In this context, the countries would practice political and economic practices that would steer the countries to replicate the European nations in progress, power, and competence (Quataert, 2005). The following script depicts Professor Gelvin’s findings on the defensive developmentalism study and the territories that practiced the approach, with the apparent reasons of assimilating the approach. According to Professor Gelvin, the approach revolved on military and economic prowess. Early in the 17th century, the western economies were fit in military and economic factors, which served as a threat ton the Middle East and North African nations (Kia, 2011). Therefore, the challenged regimes assumed that the best way to stand unchallenged against the rival European nations would be through the implementation of the same policies of leadership. Ottoman Empire and North African communities imply the earliest adapters to the system (Quataert, 2005). Their idea revolved on militarization with a stiff maintenance or improvement to the nations’ economic performance. Third world countries and the Middle East regimes met a range of obstacles associated to the system of defensive developmentalism. At the long run, they suffered victims of the system as it would not yield the forecasted results. For example, there emanated economic imbalance as the nations tried to propel both the economic and military activities to the desired edge (Kia, 2011). However, the system stimulated defense against western encroachment since the adapters of the system barred imports just like the European counterparts. This resulted from the fact the learners applied the same methods that seemed to be the key stimulants to economic propulsion (Quataert, 2005). Middle East modernism and fundamentalism and the western encroachment The competitive approach of the western nations to Middle East led to the adoption of modernism and fundamentalism practices. The Islamic nations had to halt religious leadership approaches and adapt to the western practices in order to set an inclined stature to economic and political stabilities (Kia, 2011). The following recitation implements on the practices the two phenomena, that is, modernism and fundamentalism, with the successes and failures of each theory towards European encroachment. The Middle East empires were trailing behind their western counterparts in the 19th and 20th centuries. In order to clear retrogress, they shifted towards a favorable method of improvement thus they adapted to modernism in order to reshape their states. This would ignite industrialization and political stability as it was the key to stand firm against hostilities. The ottoman and Persian empires allowed the British and Russian aids and involvements in their territories respectively. The result was that the Islamic countries would drastically change their religious and cultural values. The continuous aggression of the European nations was not significant to the Islamic nations who focused on the advantages associated to the white nations. At the long run, the nations became colonies and the modernism theory had not borne the desired fruits (Quataert, 2005). On the other hand, Islamic fundamentalism led to the restoration of the Islamic phase with a modified approach to political and economical environments. It emanated from the Christian protestant, but the Islams assumed it to imply a revolved approach to counter any future atrocities and cravings from the western colonial powers, with a consequential approach to economic and military competence. The theory was successful to shield the nations against aggression, although the western nations would at other times fund revolutions on the theoretical basis at their own advantage (Kia, 2011). Therefore, both modernism and fundamentalism had positive and negative implications to the Middle East and North African nations. Analysis of the great game The term emanates from the early attempts of the Russian and British empires to struggle and colonize the central Asian nations with a disguised approach that they were safeguarding the interests of the local communities. It started in the 19th century and ended in early 20th century. The Russians had shown a continued aggression towards the south thus threatening the British Indian protectorate (Kia, 2011). These hostilities led to the colonization of the ottoman and Persian empires by the British and Russians respectively. The following is a detailed script of the successes and failures of the two opponents in the ‘Great Game’. British and Russia were the key players in the Great Game with each party withholding different interests. Britain assumed that the only way to safeguard India would be through the safety of the Suez Canal, which further steered the interest to scramble for Iran (Persia) and the Ottoman empire of Turkey. On the other hand, Russia reflected undisputable interest towards the North African states and central Asian states, with the zeal to harbor British progress towards their protectorates. They further had a focus on India. Both powers succeeded in their bid to colonize the target colonies but had to halt progressions at Persian (Iran), Afghanistan, and Tibet borders. At this juncture, the two powers resolved to sign the Anglo-Russian convention in early 20th century. At the time, they had toppled the initial empires despite the expectations that their presence would reform the economic and political states of the nations. For the Iranian nation, the great game implicated on the modern industrialization in the country as it served as exchange centre of technology and other goods. However, Iran declines to be a subject of imperialism, and has continuously militarized and stimulated the economy in order to withstand any western threats (Quataert, 2005). The Ottoman Empire The controversial collapse of empire was drastic from the late 19th century and early 20th century dating on 1923. The empire fell from clashes with the inhabitants of the territories it controlled, and the invasions from allied nations towards the First World War. The revolutions from European, African and Asian territories of the empire were key stimulants to the eventual collapse. Foreign atrocities ranging from Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Albania, and the allied nations of Europe suppressed the empire eternally. The following script denotes the efforts of Mahmet Ali, Young Turks and the eventual failure (Quataert, 2005). The young Turks focused on restructuring the Ottoman Empire following its collapse in the 20th century. Led by Mahmet Ali, the group grew extensively drawing members from the former subject territories, but with an eye on Turkey (Kia, 2011). European nations extended financial support to the group with the aim of reforming the ottoman constitution in the surviving territories. The group would issue orders to sultans towards implementation of the reforms, with little content on possible challenges. Mahmet Ali spearheaded all financial programs and sent scholars to British schools in an endeavor to seek a group of elite that would translate European geographical and military scripts into Arabic (Quataert, 2005). The main focus would be an ultimately fast change in economic and political system, and retention of the fallen empire. However, the group comprised of different tribes, whilst the Jews of the inner circle exercised untamed influenced with a disguise that they were Islams (Kia, 2011). Rivalry begun to build across the territory since Jews were dominating top positions in the organization. With the heated atrocities and divided interests among the members, the young Turks organization slowly trailed to a collapse. Mahmet Ali found it difficult to contain the group, at the long run, the group collapsed and Turkey became a colony (Quataert, 2005). Western influence on the Middle East in social and economic status The European presence in the Middle East community dictated a continuous change of events in the general environment of the empire. Islamic law of the Quran undermined women participation in leadership statures and stipulated that their responsibilities revolved around household issues. Westernization affected economic and social lives of the middle easterners ranging from economic, political, and socio-cultural practices as explained below. The middle easterners subsequently adapted to the European political systems. For example, following the collapse of the Ottoman and Persian empires, the emergent Islamic nations adapted to bureaucratic and democratic political systems thus deviating from monarchical system of governance. The nations grew industrially during and after the period of colonization. The nations currently rank among the world’s greatest economies, for example, Turkey and Greece. Socially, the inhabitants adapted the western culture and languages (Quataert, 2005). They demolished old buildings and rebuild them into modern town houses thus elevating new cities. Women attained recognition in the society and their role inclined to participation in the governmental programs. References Kia, M. (2011). Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. Quataert, D. (2005). The Ottoman Empire: 1700 - 1922. New York [u.a.: Cambrige Univ. Press. Read More