Discuss lengthily the following statement. “The Meiji Restoration was first and foremost a pragmatic nation?

Question

“The Meiji Restoration was first and foremost a pragmatic nationalist response by a rejuvenated elite to the threat that Western imperial power constituted for the Japanese state.”---Kenneth Pyle.

pls help me out :D

Answer 1

The Meiji restoration restored the power in the hands of the Meiji dynasty. This was used for industralization and westernization,  it was triggered by the humiliation the Japanese experienced during arrival of captain Perry's ships, who forced them to open their harbour for him and thus ending their self-isolation.

This incident led to conclusion about superiority of western ways, thus the main idea behind Meiji restoration was to use centralized methods to get on par with western states. It was done by sending massive amounts of Japanese to western universities to study, as well as adopt western style of organization of military and industry.

The archaic organization of Japanese society was also subjected to change with complete abolishment of samuraiship with emphasize on nationalist idea of Japanese superiority. The concept of nationalism was also borrowed from Western philosophers of the XIXth century and became the cornerstone of the new society, which thus managed to become the first westernized state in Asia.

Answer 2

Discuss the following:

Do your own homework.

Answer 3

If you want other people to do your homework, at least have the foresight to change the essay question. I think the word "lengthily" gave it away there...