Divergences in Modern State-Building in East Asia

Abstract: The dominance of the nation-state in East Asia arose from the empire/nation-state binary created in modern Europe. In the 19th century, the concept of the nation-state was introduced to East Asia and later was considered the only modern political form, as well as the most important premise for the development of capitalism. Yet, the course of modern state-building has diverged significantly across Asia. My presentation will discuss Russia, China, and Japan's efforts to build a modern state, a process that was largely imposed from above by reformers or revolutionaries.  It then analyzes for each country the interaction between this process of building a modern state, traditional Asian society and the development of capitalism, all of which produced three different nation-states in the 20th century. The presentation will also connect them with the experience of nation-state building in Europe where it was a more home-grown process, as well as explore Asia's place in the context of these international currents