week_10-Final

East Asian History Overview

  • Title: East Asian History and Civilization

  • Instructor: Sei Jeong Chin

  • Affiliation: International Studies, Ewha Womans University

Week 10: East Asia in the Post-War Era

  • Focus on the developments in East Asia following World War II, particularly concerning Japan.

Overview of Post-War Japan

  • Restructuring of political system and economy.

  • Examination of continuity and discontinuity from the prewar to postwar periods.

  • Consideration of the impact of the Sino-Japanese War on East Asian countries post-World War II.

Political and Economic Fears and Stabilization

  • Anxiety among politicians and business leaders regarding the potential for revolution in Japan akin to other parts of the world.

  • However, Japan stabilized with a conservative political and social system post-war.

  • Noted high economic growth rates during the 1960s through 1980s raised questions about the emergence and endurance of conservatism after 1945.

Japan’s Surrender

  • Quotes highlighting the severity of Japan's wartime situation and the perception of Japanese people as victims post-surrender.

I. US Occupation in the Early Years

1. Overview of US Occupation

  • Led by General Douglas MacArthur, known as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP).

  • US's perception of Japan shaped by its militaristic past, thus aiming for a peaceful, non-militaristic Japan.

2. Key Measures Taken

a. Demilitarization

  • Disbanding of Japan’s armed forces in November 1945.

  • Involved the repatriation of 6.9 million Japanese citizens.

b. Establishment of the Tokyo Trial

  • International Military Tribunal for the Far East (1946-1948) focused on war crimes.

c. Democratization Efforts

  • Political reforms initiated in October 1945 including freedoms of speech, press, assembly.

  • Constitution of 1946 defined the emperor's role and included a war renouncement clause (Article 9).

d. Economic and Social Reforms

  • Breaking up of zaibatsu (large family-owned businesses) and land reform aimed at promoting small family farms.

  • Educational reforms removed militaristic themes, promoting peace and democracy.

II. The Reverse Policy and the Cold War

1. Emergence of Cold War Politics

  • Comment on Winston Churchill’s reference to the “Iron Curtain” in 1946 adds context to the geopolitical tension post-war.

  • The US’s Marshall Plan aimed at European recovery while the conflict between the US and the Soviet Union escalated.

2. Changes in US Policy towards Japan

  • Japan viewed as susceptible to Communist influence leading to a strategic shift prioritizing stability and economic growth over previous reformist policies.

  • Japan’s pivotal role in the US anti-Communist strategy became increasingly prominent.

3. Assessment of the Reverse Policy (1947)

  • Shift from a focus on reform to economic rehabilitation, limited dissipation of zaibatsu, and restrictions on civil and political rights.

4. Evaluation of Reverse Policy

  • Media and public response: varied views labeling it a "betrayal" or a pragmatic approach to support stability.

III. The End of the US Occupation

1. San Francisco Treaty (1951)

  • Treaty signed by representatives of 48 nations officially ending the state of war.

  • Establishment of the US-Japan Security Treaty allowing continued US military presence in Japan.

2. Continuities in Structure

  • Persistence of tripartite relationships among big business, political parties, and bureaucracy from prewar through postwar periods.