Everything about Isolationism totally explained
Isolationism is a
foreign policy which combines a
non-interventionist military policy and a political policy of
economic nationalism (
protectionism). In other words, it asserts both of the following:
- Non-interventionism – Political rulers should avoid entangling alliances with other nations and avoid all wars not related to direct territorial self-defense.
- Protectionism – There should be legal barriers to control trade and cultural exchange with people in other states.
Isolationism isn't to be confused with the
non-interventionist philosophy and foreign policy of the
libertarian world view, which espouses unrestricted
free trade and freedom of travel for individuals to all countries. This "libertarian isolationist" view is best defined as a policy of nonparticipation in foreign political relations, but free trade and affability to all people.
Introduction
Isolationism by country
China
After the
Zeng He voyages in the 15th century, the foreign policy of the
Ming Dynasty in
China became increasingly isolationist.
Hongwu Emperor was the first to propose the policy to ban all maritime shipping in
1371. The
Qing Dynasty that came after the Ming often continued the latter dynasty's isolationist policies.
Wokou or Japanese pirates are one of the key primary concerns. Though the maritime ban isn't without some controversy.
Ireland
Irish neutrality has been a policy of the
Irish Free State and its successor the
Republic of Ireland since
independence from the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1922. This policy led to Ireland's neutral stance during
World War II.
Economically, the
Navigation Acts restricted and taxed Irish trade, to the detriment of her economy, which was also affected badly by the
Corn Laws. These were introduced to protect Britain against reliance on cheap imports of grain, and to safeguard the income and power of hereditary landowners rather than business interests. The Corn Laws were campaigned against by those who favoured a return to a more free trade practice. In the late 1840's, when British shipping had achieved a world monopoly, those protectionist acts and laws were repealed.
Japan
From 1641 to 1853, the
Tokugawa shogunate of
Japan enforced a policy which it called
sakoku. The policy prohibited foreign contact with most outside countries. However, the commonly held idea that Japan was entirely closed is misleading and stems from a Eurocentric worldview. In fact, Japan maintained trade and diplomatic relations with
China,
Korea, and the
Ryukyus, and trade only with the
Netherlands.
During this time, the culture of Japan developed with limited influence from the outside world and had one of the longest stretches of peace in history. During this period, Japan developed thriving cities and castle towns and increasing commodification of agriculture and domestic trade, wage labor, increasing literacy and concomitant print culture, laying the groundwork for modernization, even as the shogunate itself grew weak.
New Zealand
Under the
Muldoon government a high level of protectionism was in place. This was markedly reduced under the fourth
Labour government when it came into power in 1984. Today New Zealand boasts one of the most
free markets in the world, and has little government intervention.
Paraguay
Just after independence was achieved, the country was governed since 1814 by the
dictator Dr. Francia, who closed the borders of the country and prohibited trade or any relation with the exterior until his death in 1840.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Isolationism'.
|
External Link Exchanges
Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:
<a href="http://isolationism.totallyexplained.com">Isolationism Totally Explained</a>
Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned. |
