As a Black person, I often wonder how cultures that began from a disadvantaged position manage to rise to a superior position. It is clear that Japan, despite being humiliated by the USA, decided to step up its game and is now a permanent member of the G7. Similarly, Scotland transformed from an illiterate country into a place that produced British Prime Ministers and top scientists. It is inspiring to witness the resilience and tenacity of these cultures in achieving greatness.
I watched this Thomas Sowell YouTube video with interest, as he juxtaposes these two nations in an article to explain that being an underdog is not forever. There are ways to escape these local minima.
The stories of Japan and Scotland are both tales of overcoming adversity and limitations to become world leaders in their respective fields. Both countries began as perceived inferiors to the United States and the United Kingdom and were once labeled as backward and poor. However, they managed to overcome these labels and carve out their own path towards success through a combination of imitation and ingenuity. Scotland's lag behind England was due to its geographic isolation and the lack of cultural artifacts from more advanced civilizations. However, the spread of the English language in Scotland opened up a whole new world of literature, and education caught on so widely in the Scottish lowlands that they had compulsory education before England did. This led to the development of an intellectual class that produced original and successful thinkers in every branch of knowledge.
From the middle of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century, most of the leading British intellectual figures were either from Scotland or of Scottish ancestry. Scottish universities surged ahead of English universities in science and engineering, and Scottish farmers even used an English plow that was completely unsuitable for the soil of Scotland. Similarly, Japan was once one of the most self-insulated countries in history and was very poor and backward. However, the American warships' demand for Japan to open its ports to the outside world served as a turning point in the country's history. Japan's leaders held up the West, especially the United States, as examples to be emulated. Western technology was imported, and Japanese students were sent to study in the West. The English language began to be taught in Japanese schools, and there was even a suggestion at one point that English be made the national language of Japan.
Over time, both Scotland and Japan amassed the knowledge, skill, and experience to take their own independent direction. Scottish universities surged ahead of English universities in science and engineering, and Scottish farmers even used an English plow that was completely unsuitable for the soil of Scotland. Similarly, Japanese products evolved into the leading products in the world, both technologically and in terms of sales. For example, the first Canon was an imitation of the German Leica, and the first Nikon was an imitation of its German rival, the Contacts. However, over time, these and other Japanese cameras evolved into the leading cameras in the world, both technologically and in terms of sales. Similarly, spectacular developments occurred when the Japanese entered the electronics, automotive, and other fields. However, the path towards success was not an easy one for either Scotland or Japan. Both countries faced a cultural cringe of sorts, where they felt conscious of their backwardness and inferiority compared to their "masters." Scots deliberately purged their speech of Scottish pronunciation and expressions, and they raised their children as Englishmen who never heard them speak of Scotland. Similarly, Japan held up the West as examples to be emulated, and the English language began to be taught in Japanese schools.
Despite this cultural cringe, both Scotland and Japan managed to take their own independent direction eventually. They began by learning all that they could from the West and emulating the West until they reached the point where they could take their own independent direction. In Scotland, an intellectual class developed, producing original and successful thinkers, and Scottish universities surged ahead of English universities in science and engineering. In Japan, products evolved into the leading products in the world, both technologically and in terms of sales. In conclusion, both Scotland and Japan's stories of overcoming adversity and limitations to become world leaders in their respective fields are remarkable tales of imitation and ingenuity. Though they began as perceived inferiors to the United States and the United Kingdom, they managed to overcome these labels and carve out their own path towards success.
The cultural cringe that was evident in both countries initially was eventually overcome, and they managed to take their own independent direction. This serves as a lesson that passing over internal improvements that took decades or generations of effort because they could be labeled self-hate are patterns that have no track record that would justify optimism. The evidence is all on the other side, but that matters only to those who value evidence over ideology and history over visions.
The stories of Japan and Scotland show that cultures that begin from a disadvantaged position can rise above their limitations and achieve greatness. Both countries were once labeled as backward and poor but managed to overcome these labels through imitation and ingenuity. Scotland and Japan's success stories serve as a reminder that hard work, resilience, and determination can help any culture overcome adversity. Black people and culture can take inspiration from these stories and strive to overcome their challenges by learning from others and working hard to achieve their goals.