Fundamental
Corresponding to Fundamental Articles
-
Could the Republican Defeat Burst the AI Bubble and Then the Treasury ?
Since the midterms, most of the attention has been on what comes next for the Trump administration, from investigations into alleged corruption to possible impeachment. But another question is just as serious：is there a possibility that a Republican defeat could burst the AI bubble and trigger a financial crisis like the one in 2008? . The first domino may already…
-
A World History Free from Both Eurocentrism and Orientalism 16 Individualism
. (Individualism is often viewed as a concept unique to white Westerners. However, the desire to independently shape one’s own destiny without relying on the group is, in fact, widely found among the Chinese as well. On the other hand, even in the West, waves of fascism that suppress individual rights have repeatedly emerged.Modern individualism emerged in tandem with economic…
-
A World History Free from Both Eurocentrism and Orientalism 15 How the “Modern Values” Came into Being
（Values such as freedom, individualism, democracy, and the market economy began to be clearly recognized in Western Europe from the 17th century onward. While white Westerners regard these values as unique to their own race, the situation was different in medieval Germanic societies. Modern values took shape as economic development from the Middle Ages onward allowed more people to live…
-
America Turns Away From Trumpism
A Victory for Common Sense The Democrats won the midterms. The larger story is that many Americans rejected the rough-and-tumble America that Donald Trump embodies. Trump tries to get his way with bizarre policies that defy reason, with sophistry, invective, and violence. It is true that America has had men like him in every era. But they have stood outside…
-
Defining the Magnitude of the Slave Trade
（King Charles of the United Kingdom is currently on a state visit to the Caribbean. There, he has expressed remorse for the country’s past—specifically, the fact that, beginning in the 17th century, Britain brought large numbers of African slaves to work on sugarcane plantations, using their labor as the foundation for its own economic development.Before debating ethical issues, let’s first…
-
The Excessively Weak Yen—The Cause of Japan’s Apparent Contraction
These days, talk of Japan’s decline is everywhere. By 2027, we are told by IMF, even Britain will overtake Japan in GDP, pushing it down to sixth place in the world. Or Japan already ranks around 35th in GDP per capita, so the country is finished. These gloomy conclusions arise from converting Japan’s GDP into dollars and comparing it with…
-
A World History Free from Both Eurocentrism and Orientalism 13 The Formation of the Modern Nation-State 5 Patriotism as a Tool of the Modern Nation-State
（“Patriotism” is a concept that was formed quite artificially in the nation-states of modern Western Europe. While love for one’s family or hometown is natural, love for the abstract entity known as the “nation-state” is sometimes deliberately imposed by those in power. It is an ideology designed to conscript people and levy taxes on them. The nation-state as an institution…
-
German Chancellor Merz’s Visit to Japan Shall Promote the Cooperation of Middle-Power States
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to visit Japan on October 28. He will then travel to South Korea and Singapore. Since his itinerary appears to deliberately bypass China, some in Japan may see this as an opportunity to draw Germany into a coalition aimed at containing China. . However, Chancellor Merz already visited China in February, a country with…
-
A World History Free from Both Eurocentrism and Orientalism 12 The Formation of the Modern Nation-State 4 Britain’s Path Toward Democracy
（Britain’s path toward democracy was not guided by any noble or consistent blueprint. The process was a whirlwind of conflicting interests and intrigues involving the king, the gentry, merchants, and others. It is particularly symbolic that the bursting of the South Sea Company stock bubble in 1720 led to the eventual curtailment of the king’s power and the elevation of…
-
A World History Free from Both Eurocentrism and Orientalism 11 The Formation of the Modern Nation-State 3
（A modern nation-state is a massive tax-collection apparatus. Parliament oversees it, while the government and bureaucracy manage its expenditures. The central bank maintains the stability of the currency that underpins domestic economic circulation. Law enforcement agencies guarantee the stability of power and society. The military and intelligence agencies are responsible for national security. And on the international stage, the nation…