Description

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Tags: Countries, History, Lang:en

Summary

In general, the history of mankind can be divided into three large epochs; antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modernity. Antiquity was ruled by the autocratic rule of kings, the Middle Ages by the decentralized governance of feudal lords, and modernity by democratic politics of the citizens. It is interesting to note that countries in the world can be divided into two types; one that went through a medieval period, another that did not. The former countries are Japan, Western European countries, and countries of the emigrants from Western Europe such as America, Canada, Australia and so on, and are democratic nations today. On the other hand, the latter are many countries of Eurasian continent, and are not democratic nation. It is the kings, dictators, totalitarian parties, military commanders, or religious leaders that hold power.
　Why do countries that go through a medieval period become democratic states? Conversely, for countries that do not go through a medieval period, why don't they or can't they become democratic states, or why is it difficult for them to do so? This is a historical problem that has great meaning for even the world politics of today.
　The medieval society was formed from the people such as feudal lords, samurai, peasants and so on. An important aspect of this period was the invention of the bilateral agreement by these people. The bilateral agreement was entered into as a necessary condition for people’s survival. Feudal lords and samurai exchanged protection for fealty, while feudal lords and peasants exchanged protection for tax revenue. These were very demanding agreements whose fulfillment provided each party with something vital to the other. If one party neglected to fulfill their obligations, catastrophe or even extinction would befall the other. This cooperation among the classes guaranteed survival and brought stability to that domain.
　Equality was born in medieval society — equality between two parties. Substantive and egalitarian relationships were built between feudal lords and samurai and between feudal lords and peasants. Feudal lords recognized the right for samurai to own land they acquired themselves, acknowledged that villages belong to peasants and accepted their self-government. Samurai and peasants were not slaves of the kings anymore. In this respect they were on an equality with feudal lords. This was the first time that mankind had achieved egalitarianism; nothing of the kind had existed in ancient states.
　The modernization of a state is the elevation of two-party egalitarianism into egalitarianism for all people. To achieve egalitarianism for all, that people must first have experienced bilateral agreements among themselves. Those who have lived under such an agreement for hundreds of years understand and see the value of egalitarianism. They develop a tenacity to exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations.
Such is the reason why people who lived through a medieval period understand and can put into practice the concept of equality for all — why they can, in other words, run democratic states. In this regard, feudalism is the foundation of any democratic nation. Equality between two parties is the great legacy of the medieval period.
　In ancient times, however, there were no such bilateral agreements. Ancient peoples did not survive by carrying out harsh contracts but by following their king's orders. This is why no notion of egalitarianism came about, and why these peoples did not develop the ability to maintain egalitarianism. Thus, it has been very difficult for peoples that did not experience a medieval period to suddenly accept and practice equality for all. Building a democratic state is not done in a day.

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