PDP 6- "Speech at the UN Conference on Women (1995)"

Author Bio:

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the 11th prime minister of Pakistan and a steadfast advocate of peace. She served two terms from 1988–1990 and 1993–1996. Her role in this conference is significant because she was the first woman to be democratically elected to lead any Muslim nation. As the leader of Pakistan, a largely Muslim nation, Bhutto cites elements of the Muslim faith in her argument for womens' rights by describing the fact that the fundamental principles of Islam promote women as equals and do not support or condone discrimination of any kind. Her position of political power and the faith that largely represents her country draws legitimacy to the argument posed in her speech at the conference. It is clear that she has some significant bias in the matter of womens' rights given that she is a woman. The argument would most likely have been presented differently if the speech was given by a male; however, the bias that she held translated into a display of true passion and belief in her cause, thus deeming her presentation significantly more effective at rallying support. Moreover, she has a unique perspective on the issue given that she is a woman from Pakistan. The problems that she addresses, while very pressing in Pakistan and its neighboring regions, do not hold such a glaring presence in places such as America. Her cultural bias on this matter contributes to her argument because she speaks from experience and is able to enlighten those who are generally removed from the problem. 

Date/Context:

This speech was presented in 1995, so the issues that it describes are very modern. The concerns about womens' rights that were discussed by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto are still present in societies all over the world today. The  speech was given at a conference just four years after the culmination of the Cold War in 1991. The speaker even denotes this war as a contributing factor in the discrimination and exploitation of women in modern society. 

Summary:

In September of 1995, a conference was held in Beijing as an effort to rally world leaders in the fight for womens' rights. As stated by the guest speaker, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the assembly proved that women had not been forgotten, and there is a resounding effort to increase true gender equality. Bhutto explains that some of the core issues that create and contribute to gender inequity are the facts that women all over the world tend to have little to no education and very limited job opportunities. Thus, women are unable to support themselves independently, resulting in maltreatment, exploitation, and often poverty. The Pakistan Prime Minister and advocate for womens' rights also denotes that Pakistan has been implementing numerous policies to increase the status of women, such as investment in the education of girls, increased employment opportunities, and organizations such as the Womens' Bank, which helps to build financial stability and independence for women all over the country. Furthermore, the speaker acknowledges the substantial but still insufficient progress that has been made throughout her lifetime. She explains that most women are now free to leave the house and have their choice in marriage; however, Bhutto repeatedly reminds the delegates that equality has not yet been reached. She concludes the speech with a final effort to rally support for her cause and urges her audience to commit to the improvement of womens' rights. She explains that women cannot fight this battle alone and that it will require a world of commitment for the final goal to be achieved. Finally, she adds that the equality that she seeks for women all over the world must reach beyond solely political and legal means, and must extend into all other aspects of society as well. 

Key Quotation:

"This conference needs to chart a course that can create a climate where the girl child is as welcomed and valued as the boy child, that the girl child is considered as worthy as a bot child."

PDP 6- Hind Swaraj

PDP 6- Hind Swaraj 

Author Bio: Mohandas Gandhi was the leader in the Indian fight for independence from British imperialism and is considered the Father of Modern India. He initiated a campaign of non-violent civil disobedience. Gandhi received secondary education both in India and England. He is known for his high moral standards and quest for the truth. This leads one to believe that Gandhi is a reliable author due to his objections against lies and extensive schooling. However, in Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj it is apparent that he is biased against kings and rulers. For example, he states “Kings will always use their kingly weapons. To use force is bred in them.” In the passage Gandhi explains how people can become passive resister, but he excludes kings from being able to do so. This bias could have arose out of his Jain upbringing that stressed non-violence and then viewing rulers repetitively use violence throughout history. Lastly, it is important to note that most of Gandhi’s writing is opinion and not fact. For example, there is no way to prove that “those who defy death are free from all fear.”

Date/Context: Hind Swaraj was written by Gandhi in 1908 on his way back to South Africa from a visit in India. In the early 20th century, India was being transformed from an agricultural society to an industrial society. Gandhi did not support the industrialization that was taking place. Moreover, Great Britain was beginning to loose power in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Making it the perfect time for Gandhi to publish a book that ultimately explained the way he believed the British should be “overthrown”. In addition, there was a growing unwillingness to accept oppression by the British in India. For example, the railroads built by the British in the late 19th century helped unify India and spread ideas of Indian national identity. Once again, this made it the timing near perfect for Gandhi to produce a book that outlined methods to allow Indians to rule India. Ideas of passive resistance and non-violence found in Hind Swaraj went on to inspire people throughout the 20th century. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. credits Gandhi for his peaceful approach in the American Civil Rights Movement. 

Summary: The main idea of Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj is that through personal suffering the individual can become free and overcome the state. Gandhi strategically sets up the passage in a question and answer format. He asks criticizing questions and then proceeds to answer them. This strengthens his argument because it addresses and refutes any opposition to his ideas. The first question posed is if there is any historical evidence that soul-force can be successful. Gandhi explains that history only tells of the interruptions in the natural flow of the world. In other words, no one records the times of harmony and natural ways of the world. Therefore, since soul force is natural, it is not recorded in history. He explains that solely the amount of people still alive today despite hundreds of wars is enough proof that soul force continues to live on. Next, he is asked to further clarify passive resistance. Gandhi explains passive resistance as self sacrifice that allows one to gain personal rights. Following, he is asked if would suggest disregarding laws in order to carry out passive resistance. Gandhi replies that a person who only believes in the judgement of God is not bound by man-made laws. He continues to say that it is only unmanly to follow unjust laws. Furthermore, Gandhi discusses how it is cowardly to stand behind a canon while it is courageous to stand directly in front of a canon knowing that death is upon oneself. Gandhi ends by examining the importance of a strong body, chastity, and poverty in becoming a passive resister. 

Key Quotation: “Passive resistance is a method of securing rights by personal suffering; it is the reverse of resistance by arms.”

PDP 6: “Sermons and Teachings”

PDP 6: “Sermons and Teachings”

Author Bio: The author of this article is Siddhartha Gautama, or more commonly referred to as “The Buddha”. He was the son of a king and raised in luxury. Legend said that he was to either grow up to be a great monarch or a great Buddha. Around the age of 29, Siddhartha saw human suffering and began a journey as a wandering ascetic. One night, he attained his goal of the highest truth while meditating. He then set to spreading his teachings throughout east Asia.

Date/Context: The article is dated 6th century B.C.E which is not too long after Buddhism was created. One can imply from this that the religion had not reached a vast number of followers yet and was still being discovered. The article contains the Buddha essentially teaching the bhikkus about the concepts of Buddhism and further develop their understanding of the philosophy.

Summary: This article essentially describes the Buddha explaining and teaching the ways of the Buddhists religion to five bhikkus. These disciples honor and respect the Buddha, but do not refer to him as their master. He lives amongst them equally, but is still considered the Buddha, or Holy One. He begins by describing the middle path which is basically finding a medium between good and evil. From here, he is led to the four noble truths. These essentially state that life consists of suffering, people suffer due to desire, to eliminate suffering, eliminate desires, and in order to eliminate desires, one must follow the eightfold path. After this explanation the bhikkus begin to realize the that the Buddha has discovered the truth to life. He then discusses Nirvana and makes as comparison to the wind. He says that although one cannot see wind, one knows it is there, the same goes for Nirvana.

Key Quotation: “‘He who fills his lamp with water will not dispel the darkness, and he who tries to light a fire with rotten wood will fail.’”

PDP 6: Two Nations

PDP6: Two Nations
Author Bio: Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a leader of a Muslim minority in India in the 1930s. He was concerned that the Muslim ideals and culture would be overrun by the Hindu majority. Despite Ghani's reassurances that the Muslims would be represented in the independent India, Ghani still struggled to keep Jinnah in league with the Congress Party's ideas.
Date/Context: This article was written in the 1930s, during a time when India was close to becoming independent. During this time Ghandi, his followers, and the Congress Party called for a united federalization of India to be ready for when they were independent. Many British officials agreed with these ideas, however Muhammad Ali Jinnah did not.
Summary: The article discusses how Muhammad Ali Jinnah does not believe that Muslims and Hindus can coexist peacefully in the same country. He believes that the Muslims should seperate from India and create their own country. He says that this is because the two religions are to different to run a country together and that they are a part of two seperate civilizations with two seperate cultures and beliefs. They do not intermarry and often believe the hero of one group to be their enemy. Because of these differences Jinnah believes that a United India with both groups would not work.
Key Quotation: "Undoubtably the differences between the Hindus and Muslims are not of religion in the strict sense of the word but also of law and culture, that they may be said, indeed, to represent two entirely distinct and seperate civilizations".

SJS5 - “Impact of China’s Open-Door Policy on Pacific Rim Trade and Investment”

Source:

Park, Jong H. “Impact of China’s Open-Door Policy on Pacific Rim Trade and Investment.” Business Economics 28.4: 51-56. Print.

Author Credentials:

Jong H. Park is currently an assistant professor at Old Dominion University for accounting. He first obtained a B.A. in economics from Seoul National University in 1998 then he went to the University of Chicago where he received a M.S. in 2001. In 2004 he got his MSIA from Carnegie Mellon University then he stayed there and received his Ph.D in accounting in 2006. He has done research about many different topics mostly on issues concerning causes and consequences of financial reporting quality in capital market. His research has been published by many different economic journals which shows how important his research is. He is very well educated and experienced which allows him to conduct this research and get published multiple times.

Summary:

When Deng Xiaoping became head of the CCP he made many reforms to many different policies. One of the major reforms was the Open-Door Policy in 1978 which surpassed the old view of self-reliance and opened China up to foreign trade. The goal of this new policy was to use foreign trade, investment, and technology in order to modernize their country.  China was able to penetrate the markets of multiple industrialized countries including the United States. This policy greatly impacted China’s economy along with the countries they were associated with during this time. Between 1978 and 1990 the total amount of exports from China rose by 18% each year. This resulted in the emersion of China as a major exporting country. This growth was helped by China’s low labor costs and the competitiveness of Chinese goods in world markets. Some of the most successful products exported to advanced economy markets were textile yarn, fabrics, apparel, and clothing. They also became more competitive with the NICs (newly industrialized countries) in East Asia in the exporting of the more skill-intensive and capital-intensive products. These products included electronic machinery, appliances, and sound recording equipment. Not everything was going so well, however. China became a potential source of conflict due to the pre existing U.S. trade conflicts with Asia. As China joined the world economy, they also began to receive foreign aid to help fund their manufacturing businesses. The U.S., however, did not offer any foreign aid to China because they did not provide funding to Communist countries. Overall, there was a large increase in total factor productivity which led to the accelerated economic growth.

Analysis:

The author, Jong H. Park, makes a strong argument about the impacts of China’s Open-Door Policy on Pacific rim trade and investment by providing many subtopics which all contribute to his overall argument. Each subtopic provides evidence in different areas which add up to prove his argument to be valid. He does not voice his opinion much in the text, he mainly just uses facts to support his argument. He is a reliable source because he is well educated on the topic, provides sufficient evidence as support, and he uses facts rather than opinions.

SJS 5: "Japan's First Big Surprise"

Source: Citino, Robert M. "Japan's First Big Surprise." Military History 29.5 (2013): 48-57. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

Author Credentials: Robert M. Citino is an American Historian at the University of North Texas. He has previously taught Eastern Michigan University and West Point. He mainly focuses on modern German Military History, especially World War II. He has won many awards for his work, including recognition from the American Historical Association and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. Overall he is a very decorated and passionate historian.

Summary: The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, also known as “World War Zero” occurred ten years before World War I. The militaries of this time period were supposed to be examining wars that they were fighting in and wars that they weren’t fighting in, so they could see what strategies were working and what strategies were not working.  Every single world power sent observers to the Russo-Japanese War, which “guided” the fighting of World War I. Most people during this time would’ve bet that Russia would destroy the Japanese Military. They had more people, more resources, and more support from foreign nations. During the late 1800’s Japan had gotten rid of their feudal system and established a western style government with a constitution, as well as develop a modern army and navy. Many civil wars took places in the 80’s and 90’s because of the rapid change. The “Bushido” code had developed when Japan decided to approach the war in a spiritual way. The Bushido code stated that one shall take death before dishonor. On February 8, 1904 Japan performed a surprise attack on Russia’s 1st Pacific Squadron in Port Arthur. After Japan had been Battling Russia for many months, there were signs that Japan might not be a bad investment “after all”.Japan set the tone of the war, and were pushing Russia back from one defensive position to the other. The battle of Nanshan was a very bloody battle. Russia held off Japan for some time before a division finally reached them on the right flank and forced Russia to retreat. Even though Japan “won” the battle, they suffered a heavy loss of 5,000 men. The Japanese had won their war with a heavy deficit. They had over 75,000 casualties at Mukden. The observers from the western powers noted all of what had happened, and that is what shaped WWI.  

Analysis: Robert M. Citino makes a strong argument that the Russo-Japanese War is what shaped the fighting in WWI. He uses example from both wars to provide the reader with evidence that his argument is valid, and that the Russo-Japanese War really was what shaped WWI. He states that many people believe the militaries in WWI did not pay any attention to the Russo-Japanese War because the fighting styles were very similar, and he disagrees by saying they payed very close attention and based their fighting off “World War Zero”. He distinguished when he had his own opinions from when he was stating facts, and he is a reliable source having been awarded and recognized by major historical organizations.

SJS 5 - The Kims' Three Bodies: Communism and Dynastic Succession in North Korea

Citation: Cumings, Bruce. "The Kims’ Three Bodies: Communism and Dynastic Succession in    North Korea." Current History 111.746 (2012): 216-22. Print
Link: http://www.currenthistory.com/pdf_org_files/111_746_216.pdf

Authors Credentials/Bias - Bruce Cumings is a renowned historian and professor of history at the University of Chicago.  His specializes in the study of recent Korean history, especially concerning the north. He has written and published countless books relating to North Korea, and he is a self-proclaimed expert on anything to do with North Korea. In addition, he has actually visited North Korea on several different occasions. However, biases are present especially because he does specialize in this field of study, therefore, as a historian, he is inclined to provide concise arguments that are within the realm of his specialty. Otherwise, Cumings does a phenomenal job in presenting his own argument.

Summary: Most people in the west have little understanding of North Korea simply because of its extreme complexity and the fact that its the most isolated state in the world. Moreover, North Korea was never on the media so frequently before the 1990s most likely because it was one of the few remaining communist states after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR. The collapse of the USSR itself almost brought North Korea down with it, however, it was able to somewhat stable even after it lost its largest patron/trade partner. One aspect of North Korea that first-worlders typically have trouble understanding is the Kim Dynasty. North Korea could be known as a modern, communist monarchy, as leadership has been passed down through sons for three generations. In addition, ever since the 1990s, the CIA has been counting down North Korea's imminent collapse, yet today it still remains. It was believed that after the USSR fell, North Korea wouldn't even last a single decade. Even after a series of droughts and famine in the 1990s, the Kim Dynasty has been able to remain in power. Even in 2011 when Kim Il-Sung had died, people thought collapse was inevitable as his policies were among the worst seen in the states history. Furthermore, in recent years, North Korea has been heavily dependent on China, as it was was the USSR not many decades ago. Experts believe that if China ever decides to slow down relations between the two countries, the fate of North Korea is foredoomed. However, with Kim Jong-Un's recent rise, he proved to the world that he was not reluctant of implementing policies as notorious as his father before him.

Analysis: Bruce Cumings does an exemplary job explaining the complex and difficult situation in North Korea. He provides ample detail concerning the history of the Kim regime, which allows him to dispel any myths regarding the regime as well. However, it would be much more beneficial if he included more of the history of South Korea, as little to no information regarding it was present within the article. With South Korean history present, comparisons could have been made and readers could have realized how different these two states are and how much the south has changed over the past several decades as compared with its north counterpart. Nevertheless, Cumings did an exemplary job in simplifying such as complicated topic, as readers are able to easily follow along. Furthermore, the articles conciseness was evident as Cumings would always get right to the point. Overall, his article is well-structured and organized.

SJS 5: "Trans-Pacific Destiny"

Unit 5 SJS: "Trans-Pacific Destiny"

Citation: Wu, Ellen D. “Trans-Pacific Destiny.” Current History China and East Asia.September (2015): 244-46. Print.

Author Credentials: Ellen Wu has received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University, her master’s degree from the University of California and her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses primarily on the problems of race, citizenship, migration, and nation through the lens of Asian American history. In addition, she is an historian of the twentieth century United States, and offers classes on the modern U.S. history survey and an intensive writing course on Cold War America. Furthermore, Wu teaches the histories of Asian Americans, the inextricable connections between immigration and the race in the United States, and America’s Pacific entanglements.

Summary: Essentially, this article takes on the role as almost a review and analysis for Gordon H. Chang’s book, Fateful Ties: A History of America’s Preoccupation With China. She begins the article by summarizing the key points that Chang makes in the book. The main idea being that the United States relies heavily on China. Even before the United States was what it is today, it has viewed China in being a critical factor to their future. She also mentions how some of America’s paramount moments such as the American Revolution and the Vietnam War require China to be added into the equation. Wu then goes into details about the condoned people mentioned in Chang’s book and what their significance was. From here, the article turns to the procession of missionaries. The conviction that Americans possessed a mission for the gospel widened the nation’s sense of it’s superiority. Later on, this turned into an, “extensive network of humanitarian institutions…” in China. The article then comes to a conclusion with Wu discussing how continuing changes allow for anything to occur between the United States and China’s relationship. Also, how the political, cultural, and economical systems between to two countries are so similar that a “United States of China” could possibly become a reality.

Analysis: This piece did not provide that many original thoughts, opinions or ideas, but was nevertheless an informative read. One may not have realized the significance that China has to the United States and how involved it has been. The article provided a significant amount of details and examples to amplify the information given to the readers. Wu accomplished the task of pulling the paramount ideas given from Chang and compiling them into one commentary. On the other hand, she could have included more of her own opinions or bias into the article to provide the audience with other insights to the relationship.

SJS 5: China's Population Destiny: A Looming Crisis

SJS 5: China’s Population Destiny: The Looming Crisis

Source:

Feng, Wang. "China's Population Destiny: The Looming Crisis." Current History:

China and East Asia 109.728 (2010): 244-51. Print.

Author:

Wang Feng is the author of this article and he belongs to the Foreign Policy program while also being a professor in California and Shanghai. Feng is known for his knowledge of China’s demographic and social changes. He also has multiple degrees in courses like sociology and economics that give him a better understanding of China’s economy and population. With his knowledge, he is a reliable source on why China’s population growth can cause social and economical challenges. This article hardly has bias because the majority of the article uses statistics and reasoning to make educated predictions for China’s future. In conclusion, Wang Feng is an intellectual individual who uses data to make reasonable predictions on how China’s economy will react if the population were to decline or change.  

Summary:

“China’s Population Destiny: The Looming Crisis” uses statistics to explain how the decreasing population in China will affect their economic and political future while also affecting foreign countries. This article starts off with how China is the most populated country in the world, and how their population is of utmost importance to their economy. Recently, China has had a low fertility rate which makes their population decline more and more. Some historians say that the cause of the low fertility rate was the one child policy, which ironically, is no longer active. China’s depends on its young workers to work and produce goods to help keep their economy alive and well. The issue comes in with if the amount of young workers start to decline, and the older folks maintain their large population, the economy will drop because the older citizens cannot work as efficiently and promptly as the younger individuals. China’s economy is not only important to them, but to the entire world because of their role in the global economy. Trade is a vital aspect for the world, so if China’s trade drops with other countries, those countries will be affected negatively which can cause internal conflicts. Also, the article describes how China’s male to female ratio is getting so extreme that in the coming years, men will not have wives. Feng goes on the say that those unmarried, angry men could resort to criminal intentions that possibly could affect other, surrounding countries. Overall, this article describes how important maintaining population is and how a change in demography in one country can affect the rest of the world.

Analysis:

This article delves into China’s mass population and its economy system that can change if its demography alters enough to less working people in the upcoming era. Historically, China’s working industry has been composed of younger people, but will population declining, there will be less younger people to fulfill those jobs. The amount of older citizens will increase, so China will then have to support the demands and benefits that the aging population demand. This pressure and change in China’s economy can affect its politics and foreign relations because the growth rate of the net producers will increase and the net consumers will decrease, leaving economic unstableness. As for the foreign relations, China was able to get involved in the global factory due to its economy and productive labor force, but if China’s economy becomes less secure, foreign countries, like the United States, will not interact with China as much. China’s population change relates back to class because it describes how countries affect one another, like Kim Jung-Un controlling North Korea and affecting the rest of the world. In addition, this article also provides an example of how population affects policies in China, which was found in the Globalization and Diversity book.

SJS 5: Evidence and Insights from East Asia

Source: Furman, Jason. "Economic Crises: Evidence and Insights from East Asia." 

     Economic Activity 2 (1998): 1-135. Print.

Author Credentials: Jason Furman graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in social studies in 1992. He was appointed the position of chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) in 2013 by Barack Obama. He has also served as deputy director of the National Economic Council which helped Barack Obama economically during the 2008 Presidential election. He also earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics at Harvard. 

Summary: This article explains the East Asian economic crisis in developing countries. Its shows many negative effects on these East Asian countries that are going through the economic crisis such as banking systems within the country having zero or no net worth. Many factors that contribute to economic instability are; failure to pay off debts, internal credit crunches, withdraw of foreign capital and overshooting exchange rates. Many economic instabilities have occurred after WWII as that war destabilized most of the world. Many countries effected by this economic crisis are Malaysia, Korea, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, and $100 billion being sent in as international rescue. 

Analysis: The economic crisis in East Asia effects many countries in primary and secondary aspects wether it be economy, resources, outsourcing and/or occupation/work. Many countries such as Thailand, Korea and Indonesia have felt the crisis first hand while other countries like Japan, China and the United States are effected second hand as offshoring, and resources are not as readily available with the crisis. 

PDP5: Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889

Author Bio: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan did not have a specific author. This was due to the fact that it is more of a transcription of the commentaries on the constitution of the empire of japan, along with its subsequent articles. 

Date/Context: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was created in the year 1889, which was the 22^nd year of Meiji. The constitution was written in reaction to the Meiji Restoration, which provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, this was a new system based upon British and Prussian influences. This constitution set into motion new laws and provisions give the emperor more power. In other words, this document was conceived in order to help improve and stabilize the considerable political power that the Emperor would now hold over the people, including the cabinet, of Japan. Thus, this document called for Japan to become truly united under the new imperialistic rule of the Emperor.

Summary: The document begins with the imperial oath, which was sworn in the sanctuary of the imperial palace; stating that as the successors to the throne, they must continue to uphold the ideals of Japan, and consistently work for the benefit of all people. The document then goes on to also state that all power that the rulers hold is a gift from the ancestors and will uphold them to the best of their ability. In the first chapter, The Emperor, it states the provisions that the emperor must live under and do to keep his power, along with the roles the emperor must play, including control of the army. This essentially gives the emperor supreme power over the government. In the second chapter, Rights and Duties of Subjects, it states the conditions necessary to be a Japanese citizen and the rules and rights that apply to them. In the third chapter, the Imperial Diet, it details the way in which the government is to be structured; into two houses, a house of peers, and a house of representative, along with the members they will be composed of, and what they can control. In the fourth chapter, the Ministers of State and the Privy Council, which talks about what abilities the ministers and council will have over the state. The fifth chapter, the Judicature, details the courts of law and what they shall control within the ordinance of the emperor. In the sixth chapter, Finance, discusses the uses and controls over the federal tax system including the modification of rates or the creation of one, including the parameters involved. In the seventh chapter, supplementary rules, it includes reasoning and procedure behind how to add new information to the constitution and some extra rules on how the country is to be run. Overall, the Constitution explained the new rules and guidelines of the nation of Japan, the most important of which being the almost absolute control of the Emperor over the nation. 

Key Quotation: “Our Ministers of State, on our behalf, shall be held responsible for the carrying out of the present Constitution, and our present and future subjects shall forever assume the duty of allegiance to the present Constitution.”

PDP5: The People's Democratic Dictatorship

Author Bio: Mao Tse-tung was one of the founding members of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921. Later in 1927, the Kuomintang Nationalist Party sought to expunge communism from China. In response, Mao and the other communists fled to south east China. Eventually, the nationalists had the communists surrounded, but Mao had retreated along with his followers to north west China, leading them on the Long March.  In the aftermath of World War II, another civil war erupted between the two parties, but this time the communists won. On October 1, 1949, Mao established the People's Republic of China and became leader.

Date/Context: In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party was in the midst of a civil war against the Kuomintang Nationalist Party. This speech was written months prior to the communist victory, and was meant to celebrate the twenty-eighth anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. It also praise the communist ideas that were produced by Marx and Lenin.

Summary: Mao gave this speech on June 30, 1949. He begins by talking about the twenty-eight years of hardships and fighting that the party had to endure. He then thanks various communist ideologists for giving them their so-called weapon which is Marxism-Leninism. These new ideas changed the way that the Chinese thought and the way that they lived as well. He states that communism has significantly altered China. He states that the fundamental structure for the new China will be a people's democratic dictatorship that is controlled by their single working class. In addition, he wants to ally China with other communist powers and eventually create an "international united front." During his speech, Mao also addresses the conflict with the nationalist, stating that all Chinese citizens must choose a side, either socialism or imperialism. Not only do they resent the nationalists, who they also associate with imperialism, but they also dislike the idea of any option other than their own. He states that the his followers must remain strong and steadfast if they are to defeat the opposition. Mao recognizes that the communist party would need help from another nation in order to be victorious and consolidated. But, he rules out asking the U.S. or British governments for help because he classifies them as imperialists. His method for destroying imperialism is create a dictatorship that is controlled by the working class. They peasants and others that comprise the working class will have the power to elect the government. This system combines democracy with dictatorship, but he needs full cooperation between the working class and the peasants in order to reach their goal.

Key Quotation: "There are bourgeois republics in foreign lands, but China cannot have a bourgeois republic because she is a country suffering under imperialist oppression. The only way is through a people's republic led by the working class..."

PDP 5: Analects

Author Bio: Confucius, known as Master K'ung in Chinese, was born in what is present-day China in 551 BCE. He was a Chinese teacher and philosopher. One of Confucius' most notable contributions was his creation of Confucianism, which was a philosophy that revolved around personal and governmental morality, social relationships, justice, and honesty. It has been the most influential philosophy in world history. Furthermore, Confucius is credited with having written or partially written each of the Five Classics, which are historical Chinese texts. Perhaps his most well-known quote is "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself," a quote that has been dubbed the "Golden Rule." Evidently, Confucius is a credible source due to his various accomplishments as a historical figure in philosophy.

Data/Context: The exact date on which "Analects" was written is not known, but is believed to have been published somewhere near the year 500 BCE. It was written during the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), but was completed during the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). The title of the book, "Analects," roughly translates to "selected sayings," which was also the origination of the term, "Confucius says." Throughout the past two millennia, "Analects" has become one of the most read books in China, and continues to have a strong influence on East Asian thoughts and values. It is widely regarded as the most important work of Confucianism, and serves as a foundation for China's moral values.

Summary: This excerpt from "Analects" details various Confucian ideals. A number of these principles deal with morality. In an analogy from the reading, Confucius compares a leader who rules by moral force to a pole-star that all of the dimmer stars pay their respects to. In another section of the excerpt, Confucius' beliefs deal with parental treatment. Although their are many specific values stated within this portion, all revolve around the idea that parents should be respected by their children, regardless of circumstance. As the text progresses, the subject of Confucius' beliefs changes to knowledge. Confucius states that people must not be biased, and must view a situation from all sides. In continuation, he emphasizes that people must both think and learn at the same time. Confucius then delves into the topic of governance, where he stresses that only if a leader respects his people, will the people respect the leader. Confucius concludes this excerpt by stating that a true gentleman never deviates from the Way of Goodness, but then clarifies that it is nearly impossible for one to be completely Good.

PDP 5: Te-Tao Ching

PDP 5: Te-Tao Ching

Author Bio: It is debated whether the Te-Tao Ching was written by a single person or multiple people, one of these people being Lao-tzu. Not much that is known about Lao-tzu is definitive, because his biography, written in 100 BCE, is discredited. In the biography, it is suggested that Lao-tau is biased against pride because of his insult to Confucius about his vanity. Because the Te-Tao Ching is a philosophical theory, it is entirely the opinion of the author(s). There is very little point of view, omniscient if any, because this text is written as fact.

Date/ Context: In this time period, one needed to be a shaman or be powerful to become enlightened. Lao-tzu proposed that one could be enlightened in their own home by meditating rather than with assistance in a certain place, because Taoism proposed that the Way was in everything. This was a very radical idea at the time. In addition, at this time, there was no singular Chinese language, which is why the Te-Tao Ching has so many interpretations.

Summary: The Tao, or "way" is the way in which the entire universe works. One can understand the Tao by observing it, but it is much more vast than anything that can be seen. The Tao can be seen in two ways; the first is that it can be presented through the physical world, such as landscapes and living creatures, and the second is beyond the physical world, and one has to "detach" from the world to experience this Tao. The Tao presented in the physical world is the 'exterior' Tao, and the one presented beyond the physical world is the 'interior' Tao. Both are distinctly different, but they are always together and equal; one cannot exist without the other.

Key quotation: "The way floats and drifts; / it can go left or right. / It accomplishes its tasks and completes its affairs, and yet for this it is not given a name."

PDP5: Hagakure

Author Bio: The author of this article is Yamoto Tsunetomo. Tsunetomo was a scribe to Nabeshima Mitsushige and when Mitsushige died, Tsunetomo was not allowed to comit suicide but instead became a Buddhist priest. Tsunetomo served his master until his master died in 1700. He was influenced by a Zen Buddhist monk and a Confucian scholar. He wrote this book for his own scribe so that the scribe could see the wisdom of the three generations of the Nabehsima family and the changed circumstances of the warrior class at the end of Japnas century civil war. Tsunetomo is a very reliable source because the details he is expressing in his story are from his own experiences.

Date/Context: This book was written in 1716. It was around the time when Tsunetomo's master had just died. It was written a hundred years after the start of the Tokugawa era, which is a time of relative peace. The samurai class was abandoning the ways of becoming a warrior and Turing more into an administrative class. Tsunetomo's master did not approve of the way in which the samurai had to comit suicide if their master had died. So his master and the edict of the Tokugawa Shogunate did not allow him to do so.

Summary: This article was about how a samurai should conduct themselves. It mentions to be a good samurai one must place his or her's importance into their masters. It doesn't matter what kind of person someone is as long as they are determined to think well of their master they would be considered a good samurai. A "retainer", as Tsunetomo used, must not be selfish and must be supportive of their lord and care for their lord's interest. Another way to be a superb retainer is to be loyal to your master, although it may seem like a difficult feat. The article also states that a retainer must not care about riches and honor, but must honor his lord to be a good retainer. If a samurai follows this code than he or she truly followed the Way of the Samurai all the way to their death.

Key Quotation: "The Way of the Samurai is found in death."

PDP 5: Letter to King George III

Author Bio: Emperor Ch'ien-lung wrote this letter to King George III in 1793 to express how he felt about the list of requests presented by the Macartney. The Mactarney wrote to the Ch'ien dynasty regarding trade extrnsion and envoy change, but the Ch'ien court found the requests ridiculous. Throughout Ch'ien-lung's response to King George III, he seems angry and flabbergasted as to how the Macartney's could have possibly imagined that the requests would somehow be suitable for the dynasty. His bias is mainly against the Macartneys, since their ideas of social peace seem to vary from the Ch'ien court's. He is very condescending in his piece, believing that China is superior to all countries surrounding it. He treats the foreigners as if they are below him. 

Date/Context: Written in 1793, this letter discusses the idea of different trade routes and conceptual ideas to help stabilize the economy and social activity of the ancient dynasty. It specifically talks about the request for possession of a small island near Chusan, the nation's worship of the lord of heaven, and the small sight of an area in Canton city, followed by Ch'ien-lung denying all of the requests. These requests made by the Macartneys demonstrate our understanding of countries and land features throughout the world and how the possession of them represent more power, and how following certain religions will help unify groups and connect people from different cultures. 

Summary: This article is a response to King George III's request for several items made by emperor Ch'ien-lung. King George wanted to expand the trade with China, which until then, could only be conducted by foreign traders through Canton while under strict regulations. Ch'ien-lung is opposed to all of the circumstances George requests, so he rights back describing why all of the situations are unfit for East Asia. First, the emperor says that he is flattered how the King took time to acknowledge these things and bring them to his attention. He offers numerous gifts at a banquet to honor the Macartney's and what they have recognized for China. Next, he says that he must decline his requests, because they do not align with all European actions, and that the Macartney's must adjust to China's superiority just as everyone else does. Ch'ien-lung then delves into an explanation of the different societies, and explains that there is such a difference in the laws and manner of the people in each community, so it would be practically impossible for there to be an adjustment where everyone is satisfied. The emperor explains that although it is an inconvience to them, they are going to have to accept that China already has established a powerful society with the rules in place, and it cannot be altered. Ch'ien-lung does not completely disregard King George's requests however, he sends an embassy across the sea bearing a memorial. This shows how the emperor chooses to still honor the fact that he requested these things, he just does not show enough respect to actually allow him his requests. Ch'ien-lung then goes into an explanation on the use of resources such as porcelain and silk, describing how important they are for european nations, and how once again, it is of the region's best interest for things to remain as is. Towards the end, the emperor brings up the three big requests asked by King George: a small island, worshiping heaven, and land in Canton City, followed by a description of why none of these requests can work. He issues a mandate on why each subject will not be suitable for the nation, and why the emperor cannot grant the Macartney's their wishes. Lastly, Ch'ien-lung explains the consequences if the family does not follow through with his decisions, and explains how once again he is in control of the most superior land in East Asia. 

Key quotation: "Our dynasty's majestic virtue has penetrated unto every country under Heaven, and Kings of all nations have offered their costly tribute by land and sea. As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on subjects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country's manufactures." 

SJS 4: Africa's Gift to Europe

Source: Ankomah, Baffour. "Africa's Gift to Europe." New African 554 (2015): 71-77. 
     MasterFILE Premier. Web. 6 Apr. 2016. 

Authors credentials: Baffour Ankomah is a renowned African specialist who writes about the realities between developing Africa and Europe. He has written numerous articles on this relationship. He is an editor of the New Africa, a magazine, as the name implies, that seeks to provide real world insight of Africa.

Summary: Africa's Gift to Europe is an intriguing article that provides an expansive background into the Moorish Empire of Northwest Africa. It was, of course, responsible for establishing an Islamic Empire at the doorstep of Europe during the 15th century. The article compares the success of this black culture as having "put Southern Europe to the sword, conquered it, governed it, and brought it civilization." Not to be unmentioned, the Reconquista played a part in the article.

Analysis: While this may be an extreme view and bias to such subject, but it is important to realize the impact the Moors had on Europe. For a longtime, many historians have neglected to admit that the Moors were black, or the fact that they contributed to Europe's development. The article highlighted this gap in scholarly integrity.

SJS 4: "The rhetoric of death and destruction in the Thirty Years War"

Source:

Theibault, J. (1993). The Rhetoric of Death and Destruction in the Thirty Years War. Journal of Social History, 27(2), 271-290.

Author Credentials:

John Theibault received his B.A. in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Stevenson College in 1979. He then received a Ph.D. in history in 1987 from Johns Hopkins University then went to the University of Delaware where he received his MBA in 1999. He has taught and given lectures at many colleges including Richard Stockton College, Lehigh University, University of Oregon, Princeton University, and Loyola College. He has mainly taught and lectured about European history which shows that he is well-informed about the subject. He has also written many articles and books about early European history mostly in Germany about the Thirty Years War.

Summary:

In Germany during the Thirty Years War, which took place from 1618 to 1648, there were many descriptions of death and destruction. Since there were so many accounts written, the rest of the world became less interested. There was a debate about whether their accounts were accurate or if they were exaggerating. One writer, named S. H. Steinberg, argued that people were exaggerating the extent of the death and destruction in their villages but he did not give much evidence. He concluded that they were exaggerating in order to get their taxes reduced since they were calculated based on the size of the village. He also concluded that modern historians are very gullible and that they knew this so they used it to their advantage and exaggerated. Another writer named Beneck presumed that all of the accounts were true and the people were being honest. He believed that if there was evidence, the people were being honest while Steinberg believed that if there was no evidence given, the people were lying. This article seeks to understand what the war was like for the villagers of Germany in comparison to how it was transmitted. A man named Ludolf, who’s comment was included in the article, kept a parish register during this time which showed the extent of destruction and the suffering in the village. There were many thousands of accounts sent to attempt to create meaning and share their experiences. Once others began to become uninterested, they changed their vocabulary to get their attention. By 1627, all of the villages were known to be suffering but the Landgrave received so many supplications that they were not able to respond to all of them. In 1639 Amalie Elisabeth ordered a survey to be taken of all the villages in the territory which showed that they really were suffering and that there was a lot of death and destruction. For example, in Tilly, before the invasion in 1623, there were 172 hearths but after the invasion only 72 remained.

Analysis:

The author, John Thiebault, is arguing that the accounts of death and destruction in the villages in Germany are true and not exaggerated. I believe that he provides a significant amount of evidence to say so. He provides many examples of numbers and talks about many different accounts to show that many people were having similar experiences during the Thirty Years War. He talks about multiple different writers who criticize the war horrors including ones who say the people are exaggerating and ones who say the people are telling the truth. I believe that John Theibault is a reliable source due to his qualifications and the supporting evidence that he presents in this article.

SJS 4: An East-West Split of the EU?

Source: Gryzmala-Busse, Anna. "An East-West Split of the EU?" Current History: A Journal of Contemporary World Affairs 115.779 (2016): 89-94. Print.

Author Credentials: Anna Gryzmala-Busse has achieved a number of different appointments, which include the following: Faculty Associate, Center for Political Studies: Director of the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies; Director of the Weiser Center for Europe and Russia; Ronald and Eileen Weiser Professor of the Department of Political Science. She received her Ph.D. in 1999 from Harvard University (Department of Government). She now has taken over as a professor in the department of Political Science at the University of Michigan. Her principal interests include political parties and political competition, state development and transformation, and post-communist politics.She often writes about and explores the paradoxical comebacks of communist successor parties and its impact on constraining rent-seeking, state theory, and the unintended consequences of the European Union enlargement. Thus, she often ventures her research into many areas that include political downfalls and similar structural changes that may occur in areas, mainly those in Europe. This creates a sort of bias where she will have a tendency to ignore issues that occur in other areas of the world and downsize them in order to strengthen her own arguments about more Eurocentric societies. Including in this article, which is primarily based on the European Union.

Summary: Anna Gryzmala-Busse’s article “An East-West Split of the EU?” discusses and seeks to identify the rift that is growing within the European Union between two factions; one being the newer former communist countries, and the other being the more well-established countries. The article begins by discussing the various differences in the “east” and “west” and the truth about the divide between them, that they are not simply political divisions, but also geographic and even social divisions. It then goes on to discuss how after World War II the western part of europe mostly ignored the communistic eastern part, in order to focus on rebuilding and fixing poverty, among with other situations. This allowed the eastern part to grow unchecked and to do what it pleased, also allowing the two parts to grow and develop very different creating very different political and economic regimes under which the two sides would function. This would create a permanent change in the european social system that Ken Jowitt, a political scientist, refers to as the “Leninist legacy.” These legacies would leave lasting effects and changes throughout europe that would cause fractures in the socioeconomic system of Europe, and more specifically the European Union. The next section is titled “Deference Deficit” and it discusses the numerous conflicts that have risen between the “older” and “newer” members of the european union. These conflicts did not always include warfare and bloodshed, but more often the discussion of foreign relations and ideas on religion and how it should be applied throughout europe. Generally, in debates such as this the eastern or older side does better due to its increased amount of experience in politics over the western or newer side. Although, on issues such as the Greek Financial Crisis, the decisions made were based upon each country's individual needs and opinions. Another example is the refugee crisis, which has divided the European Union based upon how each country feels about the refugees. The refugee crisis has put a considerably amount of strain on the alliances that previously existed as each country struggles to gain the upper hand, or just the ending to this that it desires. Therefore, at the moment the tensions between some parts of the EU are considerably high, although it will not split into two separate factions any time in the near future, and this is due to the self-serving nature of many of the countries in the Union.

Analysis: Anna Gryzmala-Busse’s article “An East-West Split of the EU?” considers more of the past history of the European Union and its two “factions,” the old or western part and the new or eastern part of Europe. Although it does not give a true answer to whether or not the European Union will split in the near future, it does provide a lot of evidence that would allow the reader to come to their own decision on whether or not it will occur. It provided many strong examples that describe the tensions that exist within the European Union, such as the Greek Financial Crisis, and the Refugee Crisis. These examples give insight into the differences between a variety of different countries as it describes how different countries reacted to each problem, therefore allowing inferences to be made about where the loyalties of each country lie, and from their the likelihood of the splitting up of the European Union. I believe that Anna Gryzmala-Busse is a reliable source as she is the head of many organizations that each pertain to the social,economic, and political divisions and associations that exist in europe, whilst also focusing specifically on areas that involve the cold-war paradigm, also since she is not truly involved in many of the matters she writes about it has a perspective that almost seems removed from the situation.

SJS 4: "Britain and Europe: The End of the Affair?"

SJS 4: “Britain and Europe: The End of the Affair?”

Source:  Matthijs, Matthias. "Britain and Europe: The End of the Affair?" Current History: A Journal of Contemporary World Affairs 113.761 (2014): 91-97. Print.

Author Credentials: Matthias Matthijs is Assistant Professor of International Political Economy at SAIS in Washington, DC. As a professor, he mainly focuses his courses in International Relations, International Economics and Comparative Politics. His main research focuses on economics, ideas on economic policy making, and the erosion of democratic legitimacy in advanced industrial states. He was bestowed a 2015 Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award for his work and was also awarded the Max M. Fisher Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2011 and 2015. Aside from being a professor, Matthias Matthijs is also an editor and writer for many different articles and other documents that are mainly based on European politics and society.

Summary: This article begins by explaining that in the seventy plus years that Britain has been part of Europe, they have never fully committed to all of the policies of the European Union. Throughout the many years, there have been many different leaders that have all been unable to decide to fully commit to the policies of the EU. Each of these leaders took a different approach to how they handled the policies of the European Union and which policies they did not want Britain to follow completely. The first three post-war prime ministers preferred to deliberately keep their foreign policy focus away from Europe and more towards the wider world. When Edward Heath became prime minister of Britain, he believed that the country was better when working with other European countries with the reconstruction phase after World War II; “... who passionately believed that reconstruction and reconciliation had to go hand in hand with greater political unity.” He emphasized that Britain belonged to Europe and he eventually was able to make the country part of the European Union in 1973. Through the next couple years into the early 1980's, Britain spent it’s time dealing with economic issues in the country. With this, an exemption was made to the establishment of the European Monetary System of fixed exchange rates which Britain refused to join. The European Euro struggles as a currency and continues to grow the tension between Britain the the EU. The “Euro Crisis” has lasted for three years and any country that decides to remain in the European Union will most likely be regulated more then they already are. This is not what Britain wants from remaining part of the Union. David Cameron became the new leader when this situation was unfolding. He must make a decision on where he is going to lead Great Britain going forward from this situation. If Britain would decide to “cut off” from Europe, then it would still find that it is still part of Europe to some extent. This is because the continent can never truly be “cut off” and Britain will still be, “run by Europe.”

Analysis: Matthijs article clearly explains the situation that was taking place during the time period. This situation being Britain being pressured by the EU and having to make a decision soon on whether they must remain part of the union or split off and be “cut off” from the continent of Europe. The author explains this situation without taking a side on whether he thinks that Britain should remain part of the EU or not. Instead of taking a position on either side, he explains what is happening by using many details and events that took place in the past to give a further explanation on what is happening. By giving these background facts, it lays a better foundation for the readers to better understand the concepts and further understand how the situation is complicated and not easily solvable by choosing either of the two choices that Britain has been given.The information is presented in a very objective manner without opinions that may skew facts to one side or another.  Matthias Matthijs is a reliable source because of his extensive studies and research about the topic and European politics and economics in general.  

SJS 4: "A Social History of Calvinism"

Citation: Watt, Jeffery R. "Christ's Churches Purely Reformed: A Social History of
     Calvinism (Book)." Canadian Journal of Histroy (2003): 368-71. Print.

Author Credentials: James R. Watt attended the University of Mississippi, and has written many books related to Europe during the 17th century time period. He wrote "Choosing Death: Suicide and Calvinism in Early Modern Geneva" and he edited "Modern Europe". He is now a History Professor and teaches, specifically, the Renaissance, Absolutism, and the Enlightenment. He specializes in European religion History and social trends of people during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Summary: In Phillip Benedict's book, he describes the beginning of Calvinism in the 1700's. Benedict was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and was inspired by Huldrych Swingli's views. He noted that in the 1520's the views of the majority of the people distinguished itself from Luther's reformation. In the 1540's the leading city was Geneva, which was a Calvinist city established by the Frenchman John Calvin. He created an independent system of church Consistory. In the second half of the sixteenth century, the reformation had drastically expanded, and attracted people from many different ethnic groups in the area. Then in the 17th century reformed Christian had been in disputes with the Roman Empire and disagreed over theology. Later in the 17th century, the Huguenots had to choose between converting to Catholicism or leaving the country. Calvinism was not tolerated during this period of time. Later in the document, Benedict analyzes the similarity of "confessionalization" between the Lutheran, Calvinist, and Catholic Reformations.


Analysis: John R. Watt made an argument that was in agreement with Phillip Benedict. Watt uses many examples from Benedict's book to provide evidence that Calvinism was played a major role in many areas throughout Europe. He strictly uses facts to explain how Calvinism affected social life during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He does not add any of his own opinion to the writing, because he analyzes what Phillip Benedict said about Calvinism. This text was a reliable source because of the fact that John R. Watt is a History Professor and specializes in European history of religion and social trends.