読書中の洋書 Why Nations Fail（邦題：国家はなぜ衰退するのか）の書評記事を数回に分けて書いています。
今回は第8章（Not on Our Turf）を中心に感想を書きたいと思います。
ルネサンス期の３大発明の１つであるグーテンベルクの活版印刷術。
印刷技術は欧州では急速に広まり、これが産業革命を促しました。しかし、全世界で印刷技術が広がったわけではありません。
例えば、オスマン帝国では印刷技術の導入を禁止しました。結果的にオスマン帝国の成人男性の識字率は非常に低く、産業面での発展が阻害されました。
The book provides a compelling analysis of the historical impact of printing technology on economic and political development. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century, and it quickly spread across Europe. However, it did not become widely used in other parts of the world. Notably, the Ottoman Empire imposed strict prohibitions on printing, particularly among Muslims. This restriction had far-reaching consequences, stifling literacy, education, and economic success.
One of the key arguments presented in the book is that the Ottoman Empire’s failure to undergo economic transformations was due to two main factors. First, the presence of extractive and absolutist political institutions hindered innovation and economic dynamism. Second, the empire lacked a well-established centralized political system, which further obstructed coordinated economic progress.
These structural weaknesses led to a deep-rooted aversion to creative destruction—the process by which new innovations disrupt incumbent systems. By resisting change, the Ottoman Empire hindered its own economic and industrial growth, blocking the progress that drove European expansion.
The book offers an insightful example of how political and institutional frameworks shape economic trajectories. It underscores the critical role of inclusive institutions in fostering innovation and development.
コメント