大国崛起:解读15世纪以来9个世界性大国崛起的历史

by 唐晋

《大国崛起:解读15世纪以来9个世界性大国崛起的历史》内容简介：正是从这一目的出发，试图站在人类文明发展的高度，以历史的眼光和全球的视野，通过解读15世纪以来世界性大国崛起的历史，追踪和研究世界性大国兴起轨迹，总结大国崛起的个性特征和基本规律，探索新形势下中国发展的战略选择，为中国的发展寻找镜鉴，以期有利于中华民族复兴这一宏伟目标的实现。为什么不断有一个又一个国家骤然兴盛，成为所向无敌的霸主？为何历史上的强国都只能维持一个世纪左右的霸权？这其中到底有着怎样的规律和共性，中国从中究竟应领悟到什么经验或教训？今天，中国的复兴和崛起已经成为举世瞩目的不争现实。如何从历史上主要大国的兴衰历程中得到有益的借鉴，如何顺应世界发展大势寻求现代化的有效途径，已经成为十分重大的战略问题。

421 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Barack Liu · Rating 4 out of 5]

042-The Rise of the Great Powers-Zhou Yan-History-2007
Barack

—— "The so-called rise of a country's exterior is an extension of its internal power. It is difficult to become a big country if its national system is not yet perfect. Even if it becomes a big country, it is not possibly continuous."

The first edition of "The Rise of Great Powers" was released in 2007. It is a 12-episode historical documentary "The Rise of Great Powers". The documentary premiered in 2006, and it recorded the rise of nine countries including Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States.

Zhou Yan was born in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province in 1972. She obtained a bachelor's degree from Wuhan University and a master's degree from Peking University. Her works as chief writer or director include: "Rise of Great Powers", "Road to Revival", "Power of the Company", "China Story", etc.

The Portuguese Republic has an area of ​​approximately 92,200 square kilometers and a population of approximately 10.27 million. The capital is Lisbon. In the 15th and 16th centuries, a large number of colonies were established in Africa, Asia, and America, and they became powerful maritime nations. The parliamentary republic has a one-chamber system.

The Kingdom of Spain has an area of ​​approximately 500,000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 46.93 million. The capital is Madrid. After the victory of the "Recovery Movement" in 1492, a unified Spanish feudal dynasty was established.

Columbus arrived in the West Indies on October 12, 1492. Since then, the West has gradually become a maritime power, with colonies in Europe, the United States, Africa, and Asia. The Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has an area of ​​approximately 41,500 square kilometers and a population of approximately 17.3 million. The capital is Amsterdam. In 1581, seven provinces in the north established the Dutch Republic (officially known as the Republic of the Netherlands).

In the 17th century, it was once a colonial power at sea. It was very developed in economy, culture, art, science, and technology, and was hailed as the "golden age" of the country. The hereditary monarchy constitutional kingdom, the legislative power belongs to the king and the parliament, and the executive power belongs to the king and the cabinet. The parliament consists of the first and second houses.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has an area of ​​approximately 244,100 square kilometers and a population of approximately 66.44 million. The capital is London. The bourgeois revolution broke out in 1640 and was declared a republic on May 19, 1649.

The dynasty was restored in 1660. The "Glorious Revolution" occurred in 1688, confirming the constitutional monarchy. From the 1960s to the 1830s, it became the first country in the world to complete the industrial revolution. The parliament implements a cabinet system. The leader of the political party appointed by the monarch to occupy the majority in the parliament will serve as prime minister and form a cabinet to be accountable to the parliament.

The French Republic has an area of ​​about 550,000 square kilometers and a population of about 66.99 million. The capital is Paris. On July 14, 1789, the Bourgeois Revolution broke out, the "Declaration of Human Rights" was issued, the monarchy was abolished, and the First Republic was established in 1792. Semi-presidential and semi-parliamentary system. The bicameral system of the National Assembly and the Senate is implemented.

The Federal Republic of Germany has an area of ​​about 357.4 thousand square kilometers and a population of about 82.88 million. The capital is Berlin. In 1871 a unified German Empire was established.

World War I was provoked in 1914. The Second World War was launched in 1939. The responsibility system of the prime minister under the democratic system of parliament is implemented. The Parliament consists of the Bundestag and the Federal Senate.

Japan has an area of ​​approximately 380,000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 127 million. The capital is Tokyo. Japan was defeated in the Second World War and announced its unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945. In the late 1960s, it became the second-largest economic power in the West.

The separation of the three powers of legislative, judicial, and administrative shall be implemented. The emperor is a national symbol and has no right to participate in national politics. The Congress is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is the highest authority and the only legislative body. The Cabinet is the highest executive body and is responsible for Congress.

The Russian Federation has an area of ​​about 1,710 square kilometers and a population of about 146 million. The capital is Moscow. The serfdom was abolished in 1861. In February 1917, the bourgeois revolution overthrew the authoritarian system.

On November 7, 1917 (October 25, Russian calendar), the October socialism revolution established the world's first socialism state power-the the Russian Soviet Federation socialism Republic.

On December 26, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union held its last meeting, announcing that the Soviet Union ceased to exist. At this point, the Soviet Union disintegrated, and the Russian Federation became a completely independent country and the only successor country to the Soviet Union. The Russian Federation (Parliament) consists of the Federal Council (upper house) and the State Duma (lower house).

The United States of America has an area of ​​approximately 9.37 million square kilometers and a population of approximately 330 million. The capital is Washington D.C. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, which officially announced the establishment of the United States of America.

The Federal Constitution was enacted in 1787, and Washington was elected as the first president in 1788. In the 100 years after 1776, American territory expanded almost tenfold. Implement the presidential system. The Congress is the highest legislative body composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

15/08/13
20/05/13

[隻眼簽到 · Rating 3 out of 5]

柔性大國
從前要打倒的列強，今天變成可以為鑑的“大國”，透露出中國對崛起成為強權的渴望。這不希奇。封建中國一直都是世界強權，現今中國的強權心態不過是承襲先祖傳統罷了。雖然這種強權與帝國主義還是有所不同。
我們無法苛責中國的強權心態，除了這是悠久的傳統外，他先天就具有做為大國的“氣質”；土地夠大、人口夠多。說實在，沒有這兩個條件，就算你科技再高、再富裕，如瑞士、北歐諸國，都當不了所謂的大國。而這也是葡萄牙、荷蘭的強權曇花一現的根本原因。有這兩個條件已屬天賦異稟，更不用說文化綿長，民族自信心不虞匱乏了。
當然，軍力也是衡量大國與否的重要因素。不僅書中所舉的九個“大國”，在當時，通通具有強大的軍力。即以現在來論，美國做為世界唯一的超級強權，中國做為崛起中的大國，軍力，從來就是最明顯的標記。回想當初的美蘇爭霸，難道不是赤裸裸的軍力之爭嗎？
眾所周知，軍力需要經濟力的支持，至於要成為超級大國，提高對國際社會的影響力，就非得在外交、政治面上縱橫捭闔不可，而這正是本書的主要功用。它既是中國在崛起過程中，對自己所作所為的合理化，也是他在崛起過程中，對外宣示立場、澄清外國強權疑慮的政治手段。
在我看來，對從前列強興衰的所謂“鑑往知來”，不過是煙幕彈而已。儘管他說：“選擇永遠存在，歷史經驗有助於教我們這些選擇是什麼以及可能帶來什麼結果。”但正如我一貫認為的，歷史毫不重要。歷史的真理只是“不確定性”。歷史給我們的啟示，從來就只是我們選擇接受的啟示。就像《駭客任務》裡，“救世主”問“先知”，他該如何選擇？先知回答他的，“你已做了選擇。你現在不過是想了解你為何做此選擇！”
同樣的，中國基於自身的傳統與需求，他早已選擇好了他的崛起之路，如前所述，本書不過是他對自己所作所為的解釋而已。因此，全書要旨盡在〈前言〉一篇。中國的“和平崛起”，既不是對列強歷史的學習，也不是適應世界政治特徵的結果。中華民族自有其不變的特質。他的強權從來就與西方不同，他永遠只能是柔性的、好用政治不好用軍事的、好內鬥而怯對外侮的。他永遠不可能是主持國際正義的使者，也永遠不可能發起侵略戰爭，更遑論世界大戰。他，就像金觀濤所講的，是個“超穩定的結構”，如此而已。

[J.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

與同名紀錄片相比，書本講述的更為詳細。然而，缺乏圖片會增加閱讀的困難度。