Economic And Social Impacts Of Opium Research Paper (Research Paper Sample)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF OPIUM
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Abstract
Studies conducted on Opium smoking in the 19th and 18 century, indicate that this commodity had adverse effects both at social level but also economically. The studies also indicate that Opium was primarily used for medical purposes. This in other words is to mean that Opium have characteristic medical properties, and hence can be eaten for this purpose. However in the 18th century, Opium smoking increased a fact which is attributed to deficit of the British trade with the China’s Qing dynasty. This had a direct effect to China as a country, in its economic and social standings. This research paper endeavors to look at Opium as a commodity in the 18th and 19th century and how the consumption of this product impacted on the economy of china and its subsequent effect on china’s social standing.
To address this issue effectively, the research paper will have different sections, each of which will contain different aspects of Opium intake in china. The method of data collection employed in writing this research paper will exclusively use internet materials written on this subject, books and articles (secondary method of data collection). The research paper is aimed at looking at different literature on this subject, carrying out an analysis on the subject and eventually equipping the researcher with the required information on the subject.
Introduction
The dried latex that is derived from Opium poppies is referred to as Opium. For the purposes of this research paper, it’s important to understand the compounds or constituents of Opium. This will partly help the researcher understand the reason as to why this commodity had social effects or even economic impacts in China. Heroin, which is considered to be an illegal drug, is chemically processed from opiate alkaloid, also referred to as morphine. The dried latex also contains another chemical referred to as codeine, among other non-narcotic chemicals.
As indicated above, Opium was primarily used for medical purposes before the 18th century. However due to the trade deficit initiated by the British, and the China Qing dynasty, augmented smoking of Opium was eventually observed in China. To alleviate the situation, the British exported increased amounts of Opium to china. The Opium exported to China, was primarily cultivated in India. This eventually led to the increased use of Opium in China, and as a result, the negative social and economic impacts that arose led to Opium Wars.
According to OWOC Website,
“China before the Opium War was closed to the West. Foreign trade was strictly controlled by the government. The Chinese had a false sense of superiority, believed that they had nothing to gain by trading with the "barbarians". After China's defeat in the Opium War, it was forced open. Moreover the weaknesses of China's political and social system were exposed and the sense of superiority was shattered”
This implied that the government could no longer protect its citizens. The formation of Treaty of Nanking resulted, and this enabled free trade with Western countries. The Western countries took this opportunity and as a result, cheap products that were made from machine were exported from these Western Countries to China. This eventually led to the collapse of the Chinese economy. The collapse of the economy led to unemployment, and this increased the rate of poverty in the country. The social interaction of the people in the country was eventually interrupted.
In this research paper, it’s important to understand that the social and economic effects of Opium will be discussed at the subsequent effects as a result of Opium War.
Economic Effects
The Canton System in China came after the defeat of China in the Opium War. The foreign trade increased as a result of the opening of the five treaty ports. This implies that with the opening of these ports, the Western countries that were willing to trade with China could easily get access to the most developed parts in china for trade purposes. The Western Merchants were mainly interested with silk and tea as the main products they could import from China. OWOC Website records that,
“The export of tea from China increased to 42,000,000 kg in 1855 from only 7,500,000 kg in 1843, an increase of more than 500%. The export of silk rose to 56,000 bales in 1855 from 2000 bales in 1843. With the increased demand on Chinese silk and tea, the tea and silk producing regions around the treaty ports expanded and benefited from the foreign trade”
Increased demand for these commodities led to a shift in production of food crops to cash crops (in this case silk and tea). More cash crops for export were produced, with less food crops in the country (although the demand for the food crop remained constant). Due to the increased demand for the food crops as a result of their shortage, the prices increased significantly and as a result, the poor citizens who were not able to export or trade with the Western countries remained and became even poorer.
Although the trade activities in the country were at the moment flourishing, it led to a monetary crisis in the country. For instance, it led to the decrease in the Spanish dollar. The rate of depreciation of Spanish dollar was so high such that, the Chinese government replaced its use with the Mexican dollar. This can be attributed to the internal monetary crisis in the economy of China. The supply of copper also decreased and as a result the cash from copper depreciated significantly leading to a weak financial system in China.
The textile industry was also affected by the opening of china. This is because; the textile industry, before the rise of Opium War, had better demand for the locally made textile industries. However, after the Opium War, the Western countries provided, cheaper products made from machines. This eventually led to a decreased demand for the locally made products, and hence the fall of the textile industry.
Although the market economy in China, before the onset of Opium War, was in the progress of development in urban areas, the entry of international trade in the country posed a great challenge to the concerned industries. There social economic establishment through the development of capitalism in the country. However, the change in capitalism in the country was greatly influenced by the entry of foreign capitalistic nations. This affected china’s state of independent development of its capitalism, such that the country was transformed into a “semi-colonial semi-feudal state.”
This state was attributed to the fact that some of these Chinese industries were less experienced with the rest of the world in terms of trade. Such industries were not equipped enough to compete with the international competitors who had joined the country. This was both for the local market as well as the international market. The presence of various middlemen in the transaction process reduced the profits earned by the exporters. However, the country or Chinese economy was greatly transformed by the western capitalism. Although the entry of international market in the country hindered the growth of China in a self-sufficient way, it greatly impacted on market economy in the urban areas. The author argues that “such fundamental changes in the Chinese economy inevitably changed at the social and ideological levels”
Social effects
The Opium War had not only many economic effects but also social impacts within the Chinese cultural settings. The level of crime in the country increased significantly due to the low standards of living; especially in the southern and east China. The ex-militaries would misuse their weapons for such criminal acts as banditry. Lack of unity was evident in the country as division amongst some villages such as Montagues and Capulets. As a result, the level of crime in the crime in the country rose to higher levels. The entry of Western countries in China also had impacts on their cultural beliefs. The Western countries had such an impact in the country until; the Chinese locals reconsidered their culture and as a result, were partly transformed into western doctrines and culture.
In regard to the six commandments that governed Chinese cultural wellbeing in 1848, smoking Opium is considered to:
Break the law,
Causes an individual not be filial
Facilitates family breakup
The health of an individual usually is at risk (may harm the health of an individual),
Interferes with the cultural settings or customs,
Imprisons one’s soul
The entry of Western countries in china created channels through which their social standings could easily be interfered with. The influence of westernization on Chinese socialism and their cultural characteristics affected their social control. However, the Western entry into China should not be viewed only from a negative perspective; but rather, any advantage accrued should also be highlighted. For instance, the social control impacts from westernization enable the Chinese government to establish a control system that is legally and socially abiding.
Conclusion
Opium compositions have chemicals that facilitate its addiction power. It was originally used for medical purposes before the 18th century (Graham, 1978). The entry of Countries in china h...