"Enduring issues have rose throughout history in response to the different ideas, cultures and belief
systems that exist around the world. As people interact through trade and travel, ideas and information
are exchanged which may lead to conflicts and tensions that last for centuries. Throughout history, the
impact of westernization is an issue that has changed the political, economic, and educational policies of
the areas that were affected by it.
Westernization has led to economic issues in places like China which affected its people and
government. After being under the communist rule of Mao Zedong, a new leader Deng Xiaoping rose.
Under Mao Zedong, people were forced to live on communes, separated from family and under harsh
political rule. Deng Xiaoping wanted to regrow China and established an Open Door Policy. This policy
allowed foreign influence and ideas to enter the country as well as trade goods to support the economy.
A result of this open trade policy, there was a greater vulnerability to foreign influence that, lead to the,
“…loss of cultural and ideological discipline. (Doc.4). The United States was one of the first influential
nations that started the spread of democracy. As a result of western influence, China started to adopt
western ideologies that were different from their communist beliefs. This was also shown in Russia after
the Soviet Union fell. Under the communist rule of Stalin, Russia was largely suspicious of much of the
world. After the fall of communism, Russia began allowing more western culture in the form of
restaurants. “…the collapse of the Soviet Union led McDonald’s to become a pioneer for many foreign
food chains that flooded Russia afterwards … McDonald’s restaurants serve more than 950,000
customers per day in Russia” (Doc 5). This shows the western influence on Russia that lasted to today’s
time. Along with economic influences, education was also influenced by western powers.
Westernization also led to educational issues in places like Japan which affected the teachings and
morals of students. During the age of imperialism, America brought Japan out of isolation by threatening
to invade it. Japan was undeveloped due to the lack of interaction and technological advances and
decided to industrialize and westernize to avoid being colonized by America. This was known as the Meji
Restoration which involved a new government structure, economic system and educational system. But,
those who practiced traditional Japanese culture felt that, “traditional values were being lost” because
… “the basic structure of education was based on the French model with a curriculum heavily influenced
by the United States.” To balance this, “conservative elements in the government exerted their influence
and added Shinto and Confucian based morals …” (Doc. 2) The Japanese education system was based off
of syncretism of western beliefs and traditional beliefs which had an effect on morals."
