How does AI choose to westernize ?

[Pippin123]

I'm trying to "trick" Japan into westernizing, so I can vassalize them instead of making them a Protectorate.

I 'm western tech and own a cored province in Japan.
They are not overextended, at peace, and my protectorate.

Their tech level is 10/16/19 to my 23/22/23 (so a cumulated 23 tech levels gap)

Anyone knows how/when/if they should decide to westernize ? Anything I can do to "help" them ?

 

[Bovara]

I don't have a solid answer to that, but I have noticed in some of my games when I have fallen into a long regency, my neighbours have tried to westernise a few times. Probably the best time for it to do so, and what I would hope for in the same situation, but difficult to engineer and dangerous to do so.

I have also wondered if the quality or ruler and monarch points per turn influences there decision.

 

[Pippin123]

Well, if they refrain from westernizing because they're afraid I'd stab them in the back, they're right .
I'll try to improve relations to make them feel safe, in case it's a factor.

I could just annex them in successive wars, but I formed HRE as Spain, so I'm huge and coring times are now beyond ridiculous...

 

[oblio-]

What would be interesting is if more countries would attempt it, especially the greater Eastern powers (and/or Hordes).

That would require strategic thinking, something like: I'm 25-30 techs behind most neighbors. I have a huge, expanding neighbor near me. I'll probably not make it 50-100 more years, so I should risk it.
I've only seen native Americans, Japan and some of my neighbors westernize.

I'd really, really love to see:
Hordes westernizing
Ming and SE Asia countries westernizing
Muslim/Indian countries westernizing
especially those which have 40+ provinces.

The biggest country in the old world I saw westernize was Japan. Usually hardly a major factor of world politics for the second (first one is Europe, of course) most disputed scene: central Asia.