Japan and China: Divergence versus Convergence

Socio-economic development is a consequence of the dynamic interdependence of multiple forces. It is always difficult to identify precisely the actual functioning and ‘relative weights’ of various forces at different levels in national development. Marx believed that ideology and ethics were determined by underlying material conditions; Max Weber argued for the existence of the reverse relationship. It is simply beyond our capacity to explicitly judge whether or not economic conditions determine ideology or vice versa. It seems that dynamic interactions between economic conditions and the choice of ideology do exist; but we cannot be certain about what is the causal factor in these dynamics. As far as our level of perception is concerned, perhaps it is proper to argue, in general, for a relationship of ‘parallel’ significance in economic conditions and ideology in social dynamics. It may happen that one factor (like ideology) is ‘enslaved’ (Zhang, 1991) by the other during some period of time. But if we consider history as a continuous whole, there are no permanent ‘masters’ and ‘slaves’ since a ‘slave’ may become a master in the future, and vice versa. In order to understand the historical processes of a specified period in a given region, it is important to identify whether or not there are in fact ‘masters’.