HISTORY OF JAPANESE FOREIGN RELATIONS*

概要

In its quest for an equal position in the international order, Japan since the end of the 19th century pursued imperialist policies and built a colonial empire in East Asia – the only colonial empire in the modern period created by a non-European power. A deeper understanding of the history of Japan’s colonial empire is essential for a deeper understanding of the trajectory of modern Japan. This course begins with an overview of theories of colonialism and imperialism in the late nineteenth and the twentieth century—from Hobbes, to Kôtoku, Luxemburg, Lenin, Schumpeter, Arendt, Gallagher and Robinson, Fieldhouse, and Johnson. After an exploration of the global context of imperialism in the nineteenth century, we will take a close look at the development of the Japanese colonial empire, in particular its strategic, economic, cultural and ideological significance. We will deal with formal colonial empire (Taiwan, Korea, Karafuto, Nan’yô), the informal empire in China, and Japan’s wartime empire in Southeast Asia. We will also discuss aspects such as administration, migration, settlement, and (forced) labor. Lastly, we will also look beyond the end of Japan’s empire in 1945 and analyze the legacy of Japan’s colonial and imperialist policies for postwar and contemporary Japan.

目標

The course will sensitivize students for the enduring legacies of the history of Japan's colonial empire for contemporary society and politics.

授業外の学習

Required readings as given in the detailed syllabus available on Moodle (120 mins per week); class review and preparation for quizzes, presentations, and final paper (70 mins).

所要時間: 190 minutes