LECTURE 7
Postwar Japan => allied occupation was a success
❖ Punishment of war criminals; International Military Tribunal to purge war criminals, with the
exception of the Emperor, who was preserved as historical, mythical and symbolic figure. After
‘54, prime ministers in power were men purged by the occupation.
❖ Constitution; American draft.
❖ Democracy; Western-style, but dominated by one party. Contradiction.
Main change in global context was emergence of 2 powers, US and USSR - not Cold War yet. Cold War
in East Asia: Japan vs China.
Japan changing role: from hegemonic power to “puppet” of Americans, kinda controlled by the US.
1945-1952
WWII - clashing of armies and ideas
Japan wanted to be leader of EA, idea based on racism and their superiority as a race; depicting other EA
countries as inferior - racial ideas as justifications for expansion.
For Japan, the US was a demon, lacking human qualities, a monster, the main enemy.
For US, Japan was seen as an insect. Again the strategy of dehumanizing the enemy through propaganda.
After Pearl Harbor, Japan was always defeated - obvious loss. US firebombing, destroying 40% of 66
targeted cities.
1945 - surrender. Millions of deaths and homeless. Food shortages, population needed black market to
survive. From the victorious developed leader of EA to no industrial production, no food, demoralized
people.
US occupation - SCAP (MacArthur) objective was to demilitarize and stable Japan with key reforms =>
expansion of civil rights, redistribution of land, dismantle zaibatsu ( =monopolies).
=> New Constitution (1947): drafted by Americans. The Emperor not at the center, only as symbolic
figure. State ruled by Diet and PM - no military. Reorganization of institutions.
Tokyo War Crimes Trial (1946-1948) - victors’ justice, based on their interest too (which was mostly to
secure their hold in Asia). Exclusion of Emperor from the Trial, it was the decision of MacArthur, who
believed it was a necessary figure for Japanese society, needed him not to collapse Japanese society. But
still, needed to limit his power.
1952 - Art 9: demilitarization. Emperor non decision-making, more power to Diet, civil liberties
expanded, US occupation ended, but military bases remained = still no equal relationship.
After 1952 - Recovery of Japanese economy, manufacturing changing. Minimal spending on defense,
because of the demilitarization.
1955 - alliance LDP (democratic party) + big businesses
MITI (Minister of International Trade and Industry) responsible for economic planning and guidance.
Active civil society - expression of people. Social transformation => gendered divisional labor,
socioeconomic inequalities (as in the West, in that period)
US Hegemony
85 military bases
, Protests vs US military presences (70s) - violence of Americans on locals since the 40s.
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security - treaty that demilitarized Japan in 1951. Anti-Security Treaty
Protests (60s): Japan was now not independent due to foreign troops on its territories - mass protests vs
treaty revision. Wanted the return of the army (= full sovereignty) and remember war destruction, don’t
want to get dragged in conflict, which is a threat with US troops on its soil.
Debate on Article 9, whether Japan can be a sovereign state without an army.
LECTURE 8
1945-1976. Chinese Civil War - 2 Chinas
Taiwan: different China, actually Japanese colony
Chinese Civil War (1946-1949): Communists vs Nationalists.
❖ First United Front (1923-1927) - China united, allied
❖ Conflict (1927-1936)
❖ Second United Front (1936-1941)
❖ Indirect conflict (1941-1945)
Communist objective => independent nation-state; no markets, state controlled economy; establishment
of Communism as goal. Against traditional values, class differences primary.
Nationalist objective => independent nation-state; state regulation and coordination of markets; state-led
industrial development. Need traditional values, class differences secondary.
1945 - Nationalists recognized internationally; even in war time they were called for reshaping world
order. Sole authority, received aid from Allied. Big cities, a lot of resources under Nationalists’ control.
Communists limited territorial rule in the North, in the countryside (not many resources) and no aid from
Allied. Over time, Communists gained more power.
US and USSR involved, but didn’t really participated in the Civil War. US trying to mediate, proposing
coalition gvm; stop aid to Nationalists in 1948. USSR officially allied with Nationalists, but unofficially
assisted the CCP, transferring weapons and delaying the transfers to Nationalists. But no US or USSR
troops participated in conflict.
Conflict began in Manchuria (1946) - most developed and industrial region. Both needed those resources.
GMD (Nationalists) lost in 1948, retreat to Taiwan in 1949. Nationalists lost popular support, while
Communist gained it => mostly thanks to land reforms (1947).
❖ GMD loss - inability to control inflation and restore economic production; no control of
dissidents; alienated local administrators by hiring outsiders for gvm jobs; corruption. Lost
support, legitimacy and personnel.
❖ CCP victory - unofficial Soviet assistance; cunning military strategy; restored economic stability;
mobilized masses to implement land reforms; disciplined party members and soldiers; strategic
recruitment of enemy personnel. Won hearts and minds of people.
Land reforms: key strategy of Communists to mobilize masses. Shaming and overthrowing
landlord, giving lands to farmers, make peasants feel like they have power. No real participation
Postwar Japan => allied occupation was a success
❖ Punishment of war criminals; International Military Tribunal to purge war criminals, with the
exception of the Emperor, who was preserved as historical, mythical and symbolic figure. After
‘54, prime ministers in power were men purged by the occupation.
❖ Constitution; American draft.
❖ Democracy; Western-style, but dominated by one party. Contradiction.
Main change in global context was emergence of 2 powers, US and USSR - not Cold War yet. Cold War
in East Asia: Japan vs China.
Japan changing role: from hegemonic power to “puppet” of Americans, kinda controlled by the US.
1945-1952
WWII - clashing of armies and ideas
Japan wanted to be leader of EA, idea based on racism and their superiority as a race; depicting other EA
countries as inferior - racial ideas as justifications for expansion.
For Japan, the US was a demon, lacking human qualities, a monster, the main enemy.
For US, Japan was seen as an insect. Again the strategy of dehumanizing the enemy through propaganda.
After Pearl Harbor, Japan was always defeated - obvious loss. US firebombing, destroying 40% of 66
targeted cities.
1945 - surrender. Millions of deaths and homeless. Food shortages, population needed black market to
survive. From the victorious developed leader of EA to no industrial production, no food, demoralized
people.
US occupation - SCAP (MacArthur) objective was to demilitarize and stable Japan with key reforms =>
expansion of civil rights, redistribution of land, dismantle zaibatsu ( =monopolies).
=> New Constitution (1947): drafted by Americans. The Emperor not at the center, only as symbolic
figure. State ruled by Diet and PM - no military. Reorganization of institutions.
Tokyo War Crimes Trial (1946-1948) - victors’ justice, based on their interest too (which was mostly to
secure their hold in Asia). Exclusion of Emperor from the Trial, it was the decision of MacArthur, who
believed it was a necessary figure for Japanese society, needed him not to collapse Japanese society. But
still, needed to limit his power.
1952 - Art 9: demilitarization. Emperor non decision-making, more power to Diet, civil liberties
expanded, US occupation ended, but military bases remained = still no equal relationship.
After 1952 - Recovery of Japanese economy, manufacturing changing. Minimal spending on defense,
because of the demilitarization.
1955 - alliance LDP (democratic party) + big businesses
MITI (Minister of International Trade and Industry) responsible for economic planning and guidance.
Active civil society - expression of people. Social transformation => gendered divisional labor,
socioeconomic inequalities (as in the West, in that period)
US Hegemony
85 military bases
, Protests vs US military presences (70s) - violence of Americans on locals since the 40s.
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security - treaty that demilitarized Japan in 1951. Anti-Security Treaty
Protests (60s): Japan was now not independent due to foreign troops on its territories - mass protests vs
treaty revision. Wanted the return of the army (= full sovereignty) and remember war destruction, don’t
want to get dragged in conflict, which is a threat with US troops on its soil.
Debate on Article 9, whether Japan can be a sovereign state without an army.
LECTURE 8
1945-1976. Chinese Civil War - 2 Chinas
Taiwan: different China, actually Japanese colony
Chinese Civil War (1946-1949): Communists vs Nationalists.
❖ First United Front (1923-1927) - China united, allied
❖ Conflict (1927-1936)
❖ Second United Front (1936-1941)
❖ Indirect conflict (1941-1945)
Communist objective => independent nation-state; no markets, state controlled economy; establishment
of Communism as goal. Against traditional values, class differences primary.
Nationalist objective => independent nation-state; state regulation and coordination of markets; state-led
industrial development. Need traditional values, class differences secondary.
1945 - Nationalists recognized internationally; even in war time they were called for reshaping world
order. Sole authority, received aid from Allied. Big cities, a lot of resources under Nationalists’ control.
Communists limited territorial rule in the North, in the countryside (not many resources) and no aid from
Allied. Over time, Communists gained more power.
US and USSR involved, but didn’t really participated in the Civil War. US trying to mediate, proposing
coalition gvm; stop aid to Nationalists in 1948. USSR officially allied with Nationalists, but unofficially
assisted the CCP, transferring weapons and delaying the transfers to Nationalists. But no US or USSR
troops participated in conflict.
Conflict began in Manchuria (1946) - most developed and industrial region. Both needed those resources.
GMD (Nationalists) lost in 1948, retreat to Taiwan in 1949. Nationalists lost popular support, while
Communist gained it => mostly thanks to land reforms (1947).
❖ GMD loss - inability to control inflation and restore economic production; no control of
dissidents; alienated local administrators by hiring outsiders for gvm jobs; corruption. Lost
support, legitimacy and personnel.
❖ CCP victory - unofficial Soviet assistance; cunning military strategy; restored economic stability;
mobilized masses to implement land reforms; disciplined party members and soldiers; strategic
recruitment of enemy personnel. Won hearts and minds of people.
Land reforms: key strategy of Communists to mobilize masses. Shaming and overthrowing
landlord, giving lands to farmers, make peasants feel like they have power. No real participation
