Notes on The Great Divergence

Notes on The Great Divergence

Introduction

  • The Great Divergence addresses the significant wealth and power gap between Western nations and Asia, particularly China, observed in the 19th century.
  • Economically advanced parts of China were initially comparable to European regions, raising questions about why Western nations, especially Britain, progressed more rapidly.
  • This divergence has led historians to explore the underlying causes, particularly drawing from Kenneth Pomeranz's research.

The Great Divergence

  • GDP Comparison from c.1300 to 2000:
    • Britain, Netherlands, and Japan saw a significant rise in GDP per person compared to China and India.

The Manchu Empire, c.1800

  • The Qing dynasty (Manchu Empire) was China's last imperial dynasty, succeeding the Ming in 1644.
  • Peak economic and cultural activity occurred under the Qianlong Emperor (1736-1795).
  • Post-18th century, the dynasty faced decline compared to Western nations.

Pomeranz's Perspective on Divergence

  • Pomeranz argues that the divergence is not due to cultural superiority or inherent technological capabilities of the British.
  • He emphasizes the significance of access to quality coal and economic advantages stemming from colonialism.
Cultural Misconceptions
  • Previous historians claimed that Britain had a more conducive political-economic system for technological innovation characterized by:
    • Fewer regulatory constraints
    • A developed scientific community
    • Effective patent protections
    • Reward systems for innovation
  • These fostered rapid industrial production and rising living standards in Britain as compared to China.
Economic Performance Comparisons
  • Between 1750-1800:
    • Production and consumption metrics showed that China was comparable to Europe in areas like sugar and tea consumption.
    • Women’s earnings in China were relatively higher compared to women in Europe.
  • Pomeranz argues the existence of a robust commercial market in China, with affordable goods available.
Migration Challenges in China
  • Slow Migration from Rural to Urban Areas:
    • Low rates of migration from rural areas to cities limited productivity in urban industries.
    • Cultural and practical barriers kept women, who contributed to family economies in rural areas, from migrating to cities.
    • Local governance by the Manchu authorities further discouraged migration by relocating rural families instead.

Coal and Colonies

  • Pomeranz posits that ecological factors were crucial for the Great Divergence.
  • Misconceptions around resource availability attribute overpopulation in advanced regions of China to ecological degradation.
    • Comparative yields indicated that North China's agricultural productivity was competitive with England's.
Resource Constraints
  • Despite productivity, land constraints became problematic in China due to population pressures, leading to land subdivision.
  • In contrast, Europe benefitted from:
    • Abundant coal resources supporting steam-based industries, facilitating urbanization and migration.
    • Colonization which allowed for land-intensive production to supply raw materials to industries, mitigating land shortages.
Impacts of Colonization
  • European colonial lands provided not only raw materials but markets for manufactured goods, spurring industrial demands in Europe.
  • Pomeranz remarks that both coal and colonies were essential in lifting Europe out of a Malthusian trap, which otherwise might have mirrored China's path in terms of population regulation and resource consumption.

Conclusion

  • China's decline was compounded by foreign interventions, resulting in crises such as:
    • The Opium Wars (1839-42, 1856-60)
    • The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864)
    • The Sino-Japanese War (1894-5)
    • The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)
  • Consequently, the Qing dynasty collapsed in 1912 amid widespread upheaval.
  • The shift towards a Western-dominated international order was not only evident in China but also in India, which faced similar disruptions due to European industrialization and politics.
  • Japan's response to increased Western influence led to significant transformations, striving to compete while navigating Western industrial modernization principles.