Over the course of its existence, Japan has endured a great deal and has overcome many significant obstacles, such as natural disasters, post war reparations, government corruption and even the threat of invasion. Although Japan and Japanese politics have seen a plethora change over the course of its history. Evolving from aristocratic state of the Tokugawa period, followed by the authoritarian rule of the Meiji Period under the leadership of Emperor Hirohito and eventually to the current democracy in place, Japan has seen many different forms of government. In the years following the conclusion of World War II in 1945, Japan has shown glimpses of progress towards becoming more democratic, while also showing its flaws in this attempt to …show more content…
While many outsides might look upon the seven years of occupation and the installment of S.C.A.P as more than efficient stay overseas, MacArthur left Japan in a state of rather political turmoil; with the only institutions having affective power left was that of the bureaucrats. Additionally, when the absence of MacArthur and the United States departed, a new wave of Communist transformation began to grow in popularity. This setback of the seven years of occupation left Japan in not only a very vulnerable situation, but also one that led them to transform their previous ambitions of democracy into a “Reverse Course” system of government. While postwar Japanese political system is clearly democratic in the formal sense of popular sovereignty, free elections, many have views Japan as tipping heavily toward bureaucratic domination, more than anything else. Japan has, and continues to struggle in, one party dominance by the L.D.P party, gender equality, Japanese political media, state elections, and imbalanced democratic areas in specific regions of the state, resulting in the Japanese “Iron Triangle”. But with all this being said, the Japan that existed prior to the seven years of occupation, and pre-World War II, compared to the Japan post occupation, is …show more content…
While much was accomplished over the duration of this occupation, MacArthur greatly struggled with many significant aspects of the old Japanese state. One, if not the biggest was the power to which the bureaucrats possessed. In the beginning of John Campbell’s “Democracy and Bureaucracy in Japan” we are presented with struggle to which has plagued Japan for so many centuries. For Japan in particular, the tradition of bureaucratic dominance is something stronger in Japan than anywhere else in contemporary democracy. While over the course of these seven years, MacArthur and S.C.A.P were attempted an alternative way to transform Japan’s political system, while keeping much of the previous system in tact. On page 80 of Pilling’s Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival we are exposed to the intentions to which MacArthur’s S.C.A.P intended to improve upon. “Acting through the existing bureaucracy, they began to implement a series of far-reaching policies, including land and labour reform, the breakup of oligopolies, equal rights for women, an amnesty for left wing political prisoners and the drafting of a new pacifist constitution. They also set about purging the government and armed forces of those associated with militarism, though MacArthur took the controversial decision to
Hasegawa, Tsuyoshi. Racing the enemy: Stalin, Truman, and the surrender of Japan. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2005.
The Japanese government believed that the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbor’s territory and take over its import market, mostly pointed at China. To put an end on that the United States put economic sanctions and trade embargoes. We believed that if we cut off their resources and their source of federal income than they would have no choice but to pull back and surrender. But the
Although the term “revolution from above” is often used to explain the GHQ’s method of postwar reform in Japan (Dower, 1999: p.69), I argue that a similar motivation was in effect in the U.S.’s efforts to isolate all Japanese descendants in America and subject them to coerced American soci...
In 1900 Britain was in many respects the world’s leading nation, enjoying a large share of world trade, a dominant position in the international money market, and possessing a far flung empire supported by the world’s most powerful navy. Japan was a complete contrast, sharing with Britain only the fact that it too was a nation of Islands lying off the shore of a major continent. Until the 1860s it had possessed a social and economic structure more akin to that of feudal, rather than twentieth century, Europe. By the 1990s, the positions were almost reversed. This paper sets out to examine the contrasting democratic political systems of the two nations and to explore the social and democratic consequences of the changes that have occurred.
General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Power (otherwise known as SCAP), from day one became, except in name, dictator of Japan. No aspect of the Japanese nation was untouched, with special attention directed to the areas military, government, and the economy. While most revolutions throughout history have emanated from below, starting from the people, the social and political changes forthcoming was truly a "revolution from above." Within a month of landing numerous measures were enacted, either to dissolve e...
...feat of Japan in World War 2). With the changes of the nature of power, Japan by balancing out aggressive economic policies and a quiet military buildup, was able to build herself up to become a prominent player in the international sphere today. In closing, while Japan’s policies today in general have been skewered towards the arguments of the ‘Gentleman’, increasingly Japan has considered more realist concerns of security in the escalation of tensions of the East Asian geopolitical sphere. Chomin’s Discourse has nonetheless served as a prophetic blueprint for more than a century of Japan policy-making.
Tsuzuki, Chushichi. The Pursuit of Power in Modern Japan, 1825-1995. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Questia. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Though it seems that it was the Western influence that set off this revolutionary change, a more scrutinizing look into Japanese society at the time reveals that Japan was in fact on the brink of supplanting the fixed, hierarchical Tokugawa order for one that was better suited for its fast evolving, capitalistic society. As historian David Lu states, “Our people began to discover [modern civilization’s] utility and gradually and yet actively moved towards its acceptance. However, there was an old fashioned and bloated government that stood in the way of progress.” (Lu, 351). Therefore in a way we can view the intrusion of Western powers in Japan on that infamous July day in 1853 as an event that occurred during a time when Japan was ready for a world renewal, and not a direct and complete cause of modernization of Japan; in fact it was Japan’s revaluation of modernization and what it meant to be Japanese amidst strong western influences that eventually ...
Imperialism has not only influenced colonial territories to better themselves or to further the mother country’s realm of power, it also had a significant impact on the people’s culture, education, environment, and political systems. Japan and Britain were two imperial systems that countered each other in many facets but also had strikingly similar qualities that had helped them become strong imperial powers that needed one another to continue their position amongst others. The Japanese empire was an inspirational country to other Asians that spearheaded the fight against the European imperialism. After the Meiji restoration, the emperors decided that the modernization of Japan was going to begin and in order for it to be a success, the government had to change along with their culture, “.restored authority faced new dangers in a new age.
Following the unprecedented destruction of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the surrender of the Empire of Japan to Allied forces in September, 1945, the Japanese government came under control of Allied Occupation Forces from 1945-52, with General Douglas MacArthur serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP). Under MacArthur’s office, also known as SCAP, Japan was designated as, “the bulwark of Asia’s capitalism and democracy” (Thompson & Bordwell, 2009, p. 462), making the nation ripe for political and economic
So, if Japan does not “belong” to Asia, does it belong to some other amorphous collection of nations, namely Europe or the West? Certainly in the modern post-WWII era Japan has seen phenomenal economic growth, even to the point of threatening the US as the primary global economic power during the height of the “bubble economy.” Some credit this success to the changes implemented during the US occupation. Undoubtedly without US assistan...
...high power status, Japan had to have a self-reliant industrial common ground and be able to move all human and material resources (S,195). Through the Shogun Revolution of 1868, the abolition of Feudalism in 1871, the activation of the national army in 1873, and the assembly of parliament in 1889, the political system of Japan became westernized (Q,3). Local Labor and commercial assistance from the United States and Europe allowed Japan’s industry to bloom into a developed, modern, industrial nation (Q,3). As a consequence production surplus, and food shortage followed (Q,3). Because of how much it relied on aid of western powers, Japan’s strategic position became especially weak. In an attempt to break off slightly from the aid of the west Japanese leaders believed that it would be essential for Japan to expand beyond its borders to obtain necessary raw materials.
Our preliminary class gave a brief, yet detailed outline of major events affecting the East Asian region. Within that class, prompted by our limited geographical knowledge of Asia, we were given a fundamental explanation of the geographical locations of the various events taking place in the region. In subsequent classes, we were introduced to the major wars, political shifts, and economic interests which shaped Japan, China and Korea to what they are today. We examined the paradigm of pre-modern Japanese governance, the Shogunate, and the trained warriors which defended lord and land, Samurai. In addition, we examined the socio-economic classes of Medieval Japan, which included the Samurai, peasants, craftsmen, and the merchants. We also examined pre-1945 Japan’s policies toward foreign entities, notably the Sakoku Policy, which sought to expunge all foreign presence and commerce in an effort to protect its borders and culture. 1945, however, saw ...