Pipes (1991) puts forward the notion that in order to modernization to occur, it is not necessary for all nations to go through all the steps, using Taiwan as an example of a country following in Japan’s footsteps.
In other words, Pipes is saying that Taiwan’s development would not be where it is today without the Japanese model.
What requires modernization to occus? According to Pipes this is not a clear cut question. Japan used to have a different image before the 1960s came – feudal, unstable and authoritarian and yet it managed to beat the West at its own game.
Confucianism used to be seen as a hindrance to modernization, which was proven wrong by Japan. The ethos of hard work, education, austerity, group loyalty and respect to authority is now seen in a more positive light.
It is then no surprise with Japan paving the way as the first to promote such Asian values that other countries like Taiwan soon followed suit.
Pipes sums it up very nicely in the following paragraphs:
“Convergence. First, the leader extends its influence. Though superior force is not strictly required (as the Indian influence on China and Chinese influence on Japan make clear), it is most often the catalyst for modernization. Absent such a threat, the common practise is not to learn from aliens, for this is a painful process.
Second, the laggard absorbs the leading country’s culture. This is achieved through a wide variety of mechanisms: learning the leader’s language, sending students to its schools, importing its teachers, adopting its curricula, emulating its culture, and even converting to its religion ยต or at least adopting its religious style.
Third, laggards imitate institutions of the leading country. The soverign, the bureaucracy, the judicial system, and the military all adapt themselves to the new model. Businesses and financial institutions do likewise.”
In this sense, Taiwan’s media has gone through the second stage and art is indeed imitating life.
Besides, who can resist this?
