In the late 19th century, Japan and Germany each became powerful imperial countries following their modernization and transformation into a corporation based on the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing is most beneficial to a society because it “promotes the general welfare, increases the population, the public revenue and the power of the country.” (List, 9). The people who benefited most from rapid industrialization and modernization were the owners of capital at the top of the political hierarchy and the industrial middle class. By turning away from a feudal society based on agriculture to one based on manufacturing, Japan and Germany were able to effectively "expand [their] influence to all parts of the world." (List,9). The rapid industrialization of Japan and Germany can be explained in part by the active role played by their governments in promoting and guiding change. Each country used its powerful military to gain recognition as a dominant force in markets, which encouraged industrialization. However, the initial motivations for industrialization in Japan and Germany differed due to pre-existing conditions in each country. Although industrialization benefited and progressed in Germany and Japan, it was impossible for all levels of the political hierarchy to benefit equally. After all, the “fundamental role of the state as an institution in the global capitalist economy is to increase the advantage of some over others in the market.” (Wallerstein, 3). The government has all the ability to control who profits from the capitalist market. The two classes that generally benefited from the prosperity of the capitalist market during industrialization were the middle and upper classes. More precisely... middle of document ...... national position. (Weisner, 20) After defeating China in the First Sino-Japanese War and Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, the balance of power in East Asia shifted and Japan was recognized as a major regional power. Initially, Japan's goal for industrialization was to avoid being overtaken by Western superpowers, however, during the process of industrialization, the Japanese government realized that industrialization was essential to remain a dominant force in the market during this new contemporary era. Thus, the Japanese began to promote industrialization in order to increase national prestige, power and wealth, just as Germany had done. Ultimately, both countries managed to modernize and industrialize. Thus promoting the increase in power and wealth of members of the upper classes. While having generally negative effects on members of the lower classes.