Isolationism facts for kids

Isolationism is a way of thinking about how a country should act in the world. It means a country tries to stay out of the political problems and especially the wars of other nations. Think of it like a country wanting to be a "lone wolf" – it doesn't join military groups or make promises to defend other countries.

In its strongest form, isolationism means a country avoids almost all agreements with foreign countries, even about trade. This is different from non-interventionism, which also means staying out of wars, but doesn't necessarily stop a country from making international deals or treaties.

This idea is the opposite of things like colonialism (taking over other lands), expansionism (growing your country's power), or liberal internationalism (working closely with other countries for peace and trade).

Countries That Chose Isolation

Isolationism means a country tries to keep to itself. It avoids joining alliances, making big economic deals with other nations, and generally tries to rely only on itself. The goal is to focus all its efforts on its own progress, stay peaceful, and avoid getting caught up in problems with other countries.

Albania's Self-Reliance

For a time, Albania followed a very strict policy of self-reliance. This meant they tried to produce everything they needed themselves and had very little contact with other countries.

Bhutan's Careful Approach

Before 1999, the country of Bhutan actually banned television and the Internet. They did this to protect their unique culture, beautiful environment, and national identity. Later, their king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, allowed television and the Internet. His son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, helped Bhutan become a constitutional monarchy with a multi-party democracy. The kings of Bhutan have actively helped their country become a democracy since the 1950s.

Tourism in Bhutan was not allowed until 1974. Since then, foreigners can visit, but Bhutan carefully controls how many tourists come. This helps them protect their nature and culture. As of 2022^[update] tourists must pay a fee of $200 per day, on top of other travel costs. Before 2022, visitors had to travel with a tour guide. As of 2021^[update] Bhutan does not have official diplomatic relationships with any of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, its large neighbor to the north.

Cambodia's Closed Borders

From 1431 to 1863, the Kingdom of Cambodia had an isolationist policy. This meant they did not allow much contact with most outside countries. Later, when Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge group took power on April 17, 1975, they made Cambodia even more isolated. They forced everyone in cities, including Phnom Penh, to move to the countryside. The secret police set up a terrible prison called Tuol Sleng (S-21). Cambodia became extremely isolated from the rest of the world until 1979, when Vietnam overthrew Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, freeing Cambodia.

China's Sea Ban

After the famous sea voyages of Zheng He in the 1400s, the Ming dynasty in China became more isolationist. An emperor named Hongwu Emperor had already suggested banning all sea travel in 1390. The Qing dynasty, which came after the Ming, often continued these isolationist rules. One big reason for the sea ban was to stop "Wokou" (meaning "Japanese pirates" or "dwarf pirates") who attacked the coasts of China, Japan, and Korea.

In 1757, the Qianlong Emperor decided that Guangzhou would be the only Chinese port where foreign traders were allowed. This started the Canton System.

Today, China is divided into two governments since the Chinese Civil War in 1949. The People's Republic of China controls mainland China, while the Republic of China is on the island of Taiwan. Both claim to be the true China. Most countries and the United Nations recognize the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is diplomatically isolated, though many countries still have unofficial trade offices there.

Japan's Closed Country Policy

From 1641 to 1853, the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan had a policy called kaikin. This policy stopped most foreign contact. However, Japan was not completely closed off. They still had limited trade and diplomatic ties with China, Korea, and the Ryukyu Islands. The Dutch Republic was the only Western country allowed to trade with Japan for much of this time.

During this period, Japan's culture grew with little outside influence. It was one of the longest times of peace in history. Cities and castle towns grew, farming became more commercial, and people started to earn wages. More people learned to read, and books became popular. This laid the groundwork for Japan to modernize later, even though the shogunate itself became weaker.

Korea: The Hermit Kingdom

In 1863, Emperor Gojong became king of the Joseon Dynasty when he was a child. His father, Regent Heungseon Daewongun, ruled for him. The Regent strongly believed in isolationism in the mid-1860s. He also persecuted both local and foreign Catholics.

After World War II, Korea was divided. In the North, Kim Il Sung started an isolationist, nationalist government based on the idea of Juche (self-reliance). His son and grandson continued this policy after his death in 1994.

Paraguay's Strict Rule

In 1814, just three years after Paraguay became independent in 1811, a dictator named José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia took control. He ruled from 1814 until he died in 1840. During his rule, he closed Paraguay's borders and stopped all trade and contact with the outside world. He even made Spanish settlers marry older colonists or native Guaraní people to create a single Paraguayan people.

Francia disliked foreigners. Any foreigner who entered Paraguay was not allowed to leave for a very long time. He hated European influences and the Catholic Church. To keep foreigners away, he even turned church courtyards into places for cannons and confession boxes into border guard posts.

United States and Non-Intervention

Some historians think the United States had an isolationist past. However, many others argue that the U.S. followed a policy of unilateralism (acting alone) or non-interventionism (staying out of conflicts) rather than true isolationism. Both sides often refer to George Washington's Farewell Address to support their views.

One idea is that after the American Revolution, and during the wars in Europe, the U.S. wanted to be separate and free to act on its own. This desire, along with national pride and feeling safe on its continent, led to a policy of trying to stay out of foreign entanglements. Even though the U.S. had diplomatic and economic ties abroad, it tried to limit them to keep its independence. For example, the Monroe Doctrine emphasized acting alone. It wasn't until 1863 that an American delegate attended an international conference.

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