Transcript War in the Far East: Japan

POL 315: Politics of War & Security
Dr. Kevin Lasher
World War II:
Causes and
Outcomes
War in the Far East: Japan
Meiji Japan, 1868-1912
After seeing China carved up by Western powers, Japan launches a policy of rapid
modernization, industrialization and Westernization to great success
First non-Western power to “modernize” successfully
Meiji Japan, 1868-1912
Defeats China in 1894-95
Defeats Russia in 1904-05
Meiji Japan, 1868-1912
Oligarchy with limited democratic institutions (symbolic emperor)
Early imperialism: Taiwan (1895), Korea (1910), small parts of China
Major power with US and leading states of Europe
Following Western example of colonization/imperialism
Japan in 1920s
Established as a world power, but not treated “fairly”
by European powers
Continued development of democratic institutions,
not full-blown democracy
“Shidehara diplomacy” – to engage in positive
relations with Asia and world
Japan joins League of Nations, signs naval armament
treaty, other international agreements, expands
foreign trade
Japan in 1920s
World depression has major effect on trade-dependent Japanese economy, helps turn
Japan in a different direction
Imperial Japan, 1931-1945
Japan slowly moves toward military-dominated
government and further colonial expansion to deal
with its need for natural resources
Japanese “fascism” includes emperor worship, rule
by a military oligarchy, ultra-nationalism, additional
colonial expansionism
Never a single charismatic leader like Hitler or
Mussolini
Government (including military) not always unified
on goals
Imperial Japan, 1931-1945
Backlash toward Westernization and liberalism
Growth of militarism, hyper-patriotism, censorship
and thought control and warrior spirit
Invasion of Manchuria in 1931, establishment of
puppet state of Manchukuo (complicated)
League of Nations orders Japan to withdraw from
Manchuria, Japan refuses and quits League in 1933
Imperial Japan, 1931-1945
Imperial Japan, 1931-1945
Invasion of China in 1937
Japan massacres between 200,000-300,000 at capital
of Nanking in December 1937
War in China drags on and becomes a burden to
Japan
US aids Nationalist regime in China
Imperial Japan, 1931-1945
Announcement of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity
Sphere in 1940 for a Pacific empire that would allow
Japan to solve its economic problems through the
provision of raw materials and markets for its goods
Ideal: Pan-Asianism with Japanese leadership
Reality: Japan views other Asian peoples as inferior
and their occupation was often brutal
Imperial Japan, 1931-1945
Japan joins Axis Powers in Fall 1940 (loose alliance)
Japan is encouraged by German victories in Europe
and expected defeat of USSR (“Don’t miss the bus.”)
Japan occupies French Indochina in July 1941 (as
France falls to Germany)
War in the Far East: Japan
US opposes Japan’s plans for extended Asian empire
(little action before 1940)
US imposes economic embargo, including oil and
gasoline, on Japan in August 1941
Japan’s economy will be strangled without US trade
Negotiations between the two countries fail, US
wanted Japan to give up almost all of its colonies
Japanese militarists decide to attack US in hopes that
quick war will force US to sue for peace and allow
Japan to keep some/most of its colonies
“Hail Mary” strategy recognizing that Japan would
lose long war with USA
War in the Far East: Japan
US-Japan negotiations (April -December 1941) in which both sides are “talking past
each other”
Proposal for summit between Roosevelt and Japanese Prime Minister in Fall 1941
War in the Far East: Japan
Japan negotiates as it prepares for war
Japanese government conflicted about negotiations
US “maneuvered” Japan into war
War in the Far East: Japan
Possibility that war could have been prevented
Japanese Uncertainty
Decision about launching war while pursuing
negotiations
Divisions within Japanese government and military
Plenty of individuals expressed their lack of
confidence in Japan’s ability to win a long war with
US
Desire for diplomacy/desire for war
Admiral Isoroku Yamomoto
“In the first six to twelve
months of a war with the
United States and Great
Britain I will run wild and win
victory upon victory. But then,
if the war continues after that,
I have no expectation of
success.”
Planned and executed attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan has Two Choices
Back down to US demands
Launch a preemptive strike against US
Japan understands that it could not win a long-term
war with US
Hope is that a quick, knock-out blow will so harm the
US that it will sue for peace on terms favorable to
Japan
US is about to be at war in Europe and may decide to
forgo a war in Asia
Ignores American desire for “revenge” after Pearl
Harbor
Japan has Two Choices
Japan takes a huge gamble that they can force US into a negotiated peace, after a
quick decisive war
Japan LOSES that gamble
Pearl Harbor
Destroys much of American Pacific fleet, but three aircraft carriers at sea
during attack
2403 Americans killed
Pacific War
War goes well for Japan until battle of Midway in
May 1942
Long, costly process of dislodging Japan from its
numerous territories
Japan cannot “afford” to defend its newly-acquired
empire
Japan cannot match industrial and war-fighting
capability of US economy
Pacific War
Firebombing of Tokyo and other cities begins in late
1944
Deaths of around 300,000 Japanese civilians
Japan has lost the war but continues to fight on
US desires to avoid invasion of homeland islands
Battle of Okinawa (mid-1945) costs 14,000
American lives and 75,000 Japanese lives
Atomic Bombs
US drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9)
After “decision” by Emperor, Japan surrenders on August 11, 1945
Japan occupied by US troops from 1945-1952
Atomic Bombs
POL 315 paper
World War II Outcomes
 Germany, Japan and much of Europe/Asia devastated
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by end of war
Two great powers (superpowers) – US and USSR –
emerge as “cautious allies”
China on verge of civil war between Nationalists and
Communists
De-colonialization process begins in Africa and Asia
Korea temporarily divided into Soviet and American
zones
World War II Outcomes
 Japan occupied by American forces
 Germany temporarily divided into four zones
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(eventually West and East Germany)
Great uncertainty over future of Europe
Creation of state of Israel, as homeland for postHolocaust Jewish people
US begins quick demobilization, stronger than ever,
but determined to avoid mistakes of post-WWI era
Stalin determined to have influence over Eastern
Europe and prevent a rebuilt Germany
Collective security through United Nations
World War II Outcomes
 Cold War between US and USSR by
1947
Outcomes
 Beginning of the nuclear era