When studying the political ideology of Sun Yat-sen and the drug trade policies of Lin Zexu, one is startled by how modern and applicable to today’s world are their writings and viewpoints, however, we also see many difference between them. Sun Yat-Sen was a revolutionary responsible for organizing the Nationalist party in 1912, after the successful Revolution of 1911. In reality, his principles for revolution are amazingly comparable to the Western philosophy of a democratic republic. The three principles that form the core of Yat-sen’s revolution ideology are as follows: the principle of nationalism; the principle of democracy; the principle of livelihood. Lin Zexu was an official under the rule of the Emperor Daoguang. His goal was to lead a campaign against the high level of opium addiction and export into the country. Through moral persuasion and coercion Zexu was responsible for trying to persuade Queen Victoria (whose country exported most of the opium into China) to prohibit her subjects from exporting opium into China. This analysis will demonstrate the arguments put forth by both men in an effort to demonstrate how their viewpoints are eerily akin to modern political ideologies and drug policies of today. Yet, we see many differences. For example, Lin Zexu came after the turmoil filled war-torn period of Sun Yat-sen. Further, they were different in that Sun Yat-sen was against the regime in power and Lin Zexu was the errand boy for the Emperor. In addition, we can see how the time of Lin Zexu was one in which the problems of the country were more social oriented, such as drugs and trade problems, whereas, in the time of Sun Yat-sen the country was involved in civil war and military pursuits.
Sun Yat-sen’s first principle of revolution is the of nationalism. In a way, his viewpoint is like the policy of the United Nation’s today in that they believe all peoples have the right to self-rule. Further, his...