Is there a clear distinction between modernization and Westernization?

>>2735816
Yes but the two do cross over very much so, especially in times like the 1890's and early 20th century. Emperor Meiji managed a very successful modernisation campaign while keeping his nation distinctly Japanese (despite destroying the samurai and oppressing groups like the Ainu) but nevertheless despite that approach towards modernisation many western ideas were adapted anyway, like colonialism. The Young Turk modernist revolution brought little westernisation while attempting to bring modernity to the Ottoman Empire compared to Ataturk's modernisation which was heavily bringing western ideas into Turkey.

I do feel there is a difference but the time when modernisation started occurring in a lot of countries (Meiji Japan) Western ideals were almost expected to come with that as so much of the world looked towards places like Britain, France and Germany for modern ideas.

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>>2735816
To Meiji and the Meiji oligarchs, there wasn't really much difference. The Meiji period was a time when Japanese leaders believed that if they didn't upgrade their country to Western standards, then they would be immediately vulnerable to attack, this meant such frivolous things as banning shougo, (woodblock porn) separating baths based on gender, and enforcing European dress at the Imperial court. Meiji leaders would have turned Japan into a carbon copy of Europe if they had stayed alive and in power long enough to do so. Everyone who was anyone was wearing, reading, and consuming Western things and products. manner.

The degree to which the Meiji Oligarchs suppressed traditional cultures and westernized the country was almost a direct cause of the fanatical, militaristic, ultranationalist reaction that occurred in the 1930's, but it was also what allowed Japan to gain a diplomatic, economic, military and technological footing in the world.

>>2736419
This is why the Shogun should've won

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>>2736428
>This is why the Shogun should've won
If it wasn't for the Meiji oligarchy, Japan would have become a piece of shit third world backwater destined to be trampled over by Western powers in much the same way that China and Southeast Asia were, if it wasn't for the comprehensive, if not insensitive societal revolution of the Meiji era, Japan would not nearly be as powerful as it was and is.

I tend to think of it this way. The west was a role model for modernization, particularly during the 1800 and early 1900s. To act like the west, to most societies, was to act more modern (as we understand the term). Westernization and modernization COULD be the same thing but don't HAVE to be the same thing.

Of course the term modern can get a bit wonky anyway, what does it really mean? Anything can theoretically be modern if it's contemporary. Usually I associate the term 'modernize' as to adopt a newer and more effective technology, in which case when it came to military technology in particular the west was obviously what you wanted to emulate. Politically it wouldn't be hard to imagine why you'd want to emulate the most prominent empires of the age. But if some tribe in southeast asia had decided to use the Chinese as a role model I'd still say they were modernizing.

>>2736419
>western dress
I think you mean English anon

If you're a nut who like Dugin:
http://www.4pt.su/en/content/modernization-without-westernization

>>2736566
He's a nut and whoever likes him is objectively a diagnosed autist.

Gamaliel?