Civilization: The West and the Rest by Niall Ferguson

This post is a summary of a book I’ve read. When I summarise a book, I try to capture the intent of the author, rather than insert my personal opinion on their arguments. These notes are in no way an endorsement of the book or author. I frequently read books and authors I disagree with.

🔗 via app.thestorygraph.com.

Highlights

No country that wishes to become developed today can pursue closed-door policies. We have tasted this bitter experience and our ancestors have tasted it. In the early Ming Dynasty in the reign of Yongle when Zheng He sailed the Western Ocean, our country was open. After Yongle died the dynasty went into decline. China was invaded. Counting from the middle of the Ming Dynasty to the Opium Wars, through 300 years of isolation China was made poor, and became backward and mired in darkness and ignorance. No open door is not an option.” — Deng Xiaoping

China seems to have been long stationary, and had probably long ago acquired that full complement of riches which is consistent with the nature of its laws and institutions. But this complement may be much inferior to what, with other laws and institutions, the nature of its soil, climate, and situation might admit of. A country which neglects or despises foreign commerce, and which admits the vessels of foreign nations into one or two of its ports only, cannot transact the same quantity of business which it might do with different laws and institutions … A more extensive foreign trade … could scarce fail to increase very much the manufactures of China, and to improve very much the productive powers of its manufacturing industry. By a more extensive navigation, the Chinese would naturally learn the art of using and constructing themselves all the different machines made use of in other countries, as well as the other improvements of art and industry which are practised in all the different parts of the world. — Adam Smith

Niall Ferguson attempts to explain why the West led the world in recent centuries, and what this could mean for the future.

Before industrialisation, Europe lagged behind China

As a result, China got a head start on many technologies

When China turned inwards, it squandered it’s lead

Cultural and political differences powered East-West divergence

Europe generally fared better than the East, but Britain fared best of all.

Since industrialisation, Britain dominated

Competition with the Islamic world

Modern implications

Since the 20th century, the East has undergone an intentional process of Westernisation. This has delivered significant progress. In the meantime, Europe has lost its edge.

Find the book here.

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