Читать книгу The Meaning of Internationalization - Edwin Reischauer - Страница 7

FOREWORD

In Japan in recent years, “international” and “internationalization” have become very popular vogue words. In contemporary American slang one might call them buzzwords. But unfortunately such terms often come to mean very different things to different people. For example, in French politics in the past, “radical” came virtually to mean “conservative.” Many countries today like to call themselves “democratic republics,” even though in any real democracy they would seem to be almost the opposite.

In the West “international” has always stood in contrast to “national.” It suggests understanding and cooperation between different lands rather than isolation and narrow self-interest. It gives promise of peace among countries and harmony based on international law and institutions. Nationalism, on the contrary, implies military conflict and economic warfare resulting from clashes of national interest. Some people do fear that internationalism will weaken or corrupt their lands, but the term on the whole is overwhelmingly favorable.

Internationalization clearly has a basically good meaning in Japan as well, or else it would not be so popular. But negative attitudes toward the term are much stronger than in the West. Some Japanese equate internationalization with Westernization and fear that it would bring a further loss of the uniqueness they claim for Japan. Such attitudes, however, are quite mistaken. The rapid changes that undoubtedly are taking place in Japan are the product of the development of science and technology and the resultant prosperity they have brought to Japan, not the unwanted results of internationalization. How many Japanese would wish to forego their present affl uence and worldwide economic leadership to return to impoverished isolation?

Some Japanese also contrast the international turmoil of the contemporary world with the strict peace and order of Tokugawa times, forgetting the harsh personal suppression that accompanied this earlier system. They compare the long peace which Tokugawa isolation made possible with the wars that swept the rest of the world. To them international contacts are associated with war and the frightening threat of imperialist domination of the past. Peace and tranquility seem more attainable through the avoidance of international contacts in so far as possible. Internationalization to such people, therefore, is a dubious and slightly repellent term. But they are grossly mistaken in these concepts. Japan is like a creature that has become much too large for its old protective shell of isolation. Unable under modern conditions to grow a new and bigger shell, it must devise new means to protect itself. Internationalization is obviously the only means Japan has to continue its prosperity and survive in peace.

Internationalization thus is a key word for Japan today. People should know its true meaning and also its implications and problems. Without it, Japan cannot continue its present affl uence and world leadership as an economic giant. It cannot even survive. It is for this reason that I have composed this little essay on the meaning of internationalization to Japan and some of the problems Japanese need to consider when thinking about it.