Japanese aggressive nationalism
Topic: Paths to Modernisation: Japan, China, Korea · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Paths to Modernisation"
Meaning
Japanese aggressive nationalism was a nationalism centred on the state. It grew out of Japan's fear of being colonised by the West. Fear of the West silenced people who opposed military spending. The army and navy answered only to the emperor and were outside cabinet control. In the 1930s and 1940s, this led to wars of conquest and to the jailing of critics at home. It left a "legacy of hatred" across Asia.
Example
Japan took Taiwan in 1895 and annexed Korea in 1910. It invaded China from 1931 and attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, which began the Pacific War (1941–45).
Don't confuse with
- Anti-colonial nationalism: In India or China, nationalism fought against foreign rule. Japan's nationalism was used to justify building its own colonial empire.
Related concepts
- First Sino-Japanese War
- Russo-Japanese War
- Manchurian Incident 1931
- Nanjing Massacre 1937
- Overcoming Modernity