Theodore+Von+Laue,+The+World+Revolution+of+Westernization

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Von Laue "The World Revolution of Westernization"

I. Westernization was risky A. A pattern for "revolutionary subversion of non-Western societies" 1. Defeat of traditional rulers 2. Wester attack on other props of society a. Missionaries weakened spiritual foundations b. Colonial administrators suppress traditions c. Western business redirects the flow of trade. B. The pattern was general. Speed of Westernization depended upon the society in question C. Did "Things fall apart"? 1. some things Western had an intrinsic appeal. 2. Westernized non-Western Intellectuals a. see that equality exists when they were in Europe, but not when they return home. - recognize the need to have power in order to make equality with the West real, and so become revolutionaries in the western style. b. always split between traditional and Western ideas. D. Did Westerners behave toward the non-West in ways worse than they behaved toward themselves? 1. There were two "crucial boons" missing from westernized societies that did exist, despite inequality, in western societies. These included a cultural harmony, and a reasonable harmony in the body politic. E. The key to understanding Westernization is to look at its long-term consequences