Different between Canada and China

Differentiating between Canada and China

China is a communist nation that is found in the east of Asia and is currently the world’s most populous country. Its landmass is a mix of deserts, lakes, and rivers. Its capital, Beijing, is now a modern city with excellent architecture. Canada, on the other hand, stretches from the United States of America in the south and the Arctic Circle to the north. There are many big cities in the country such as Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver. Regarding comparison, it is evident that they do not only look different, they also have dissimilar politics, culture, literature, and education system. Therefore, these facts have, in turn, affected the way the people from these two societies interact.

One very distinct difference between the two countries lies in their culture. For a long time, China has been labeled as a communist while Canada is a capitalist (Cardy, n.d.). This means that in China, group success, as well as those who work together to achieve a common goal, are respected. It is also referred to as collectivism. The history of capitalism is deeply rooted in the country’s history. Confucianism, for instance, shaped its belief through its school of thought that emphasized justice, humaneness, and virtue (Khairullah & Khairullah, 2013). Thus, in China, people are expected to maintain their social image. Social vices such as corruption are highly discouraged, and the consequences of engaging in such crimes are often fatal. Other ideologies, which influenced Chinese culture, include Taoism and Buddhism. They emphasized the significance of education and respecting elders and parents (Troper, 2001). On the contrary, Canada has borrowed a lot from Britain and the United States. In a capitalist society, it is the individual’s contributions to the state that matters and not what the country does for you (Banting & Kymlicka, 2010).

Consequently, the politics of these two countries can also be said to be different. Canada has adopted a centralized form of governance. The central government controls such things as the national defense, commerce, currency, and banking. Other matters such as a hospital, education, and civil rights are left to the provinces. There are two houses: the Senate and the House of Commons. As in the case of the United States, Canada has a federal system of governance, and there are ten provinces. On the other hand, the communist party rules China, and it can be said to be a dictatorship (Paris, 2014). The national legislature of China is the National People’s Congress, and its members are usually elected and can serve up to five-year terms. Although China also has a federal system of governance, and the people seem to play a significant role in the country’s governance, the truth of the matter is that all the power rests with the communist party.

In terms of the country’s literature, many Chinese writings are based on teachings such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. There is much emphasis on nature and how it relates to human beings (Zhou & Tong, 2000). Early Canadian writings, on the other hand, have tried to imitate British literature. Additionally, they have worked to develop their approaches when describing their experiences. In the modern days, their writings focus on various themes, are aimed at survival, and can be applied to the climate, language, and identity of the Canadians (Atwood, 2013). Also, students in Canada seem to be under much pressure to perform than those in China, and this can be attributed to different cultures adopted in each county. The education system in China is more exam-oriented and mostly focuses on memorizing analytical skills than the Canadian one. In Canada, it emphasizes encouraging children to use their imaginative skills (Alboim, 2011). Other areas where there are many differences between the two countries relate to food eaten and societal perception of gender among others.