1. POL 315: Politics of War & Security
Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. World War II: Causes and Outcomes

3. War in the Far East: Japan

4. Meiji Japan,
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

5. Meiji Japan, 1868-1912 Defeats China in 1894-95
Defeats Russia in

6. Meiji Japan,
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

7. 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

8. Japan in 1920s
World depression has major effect on trade-dependent Japanese economy, helps turn Japan in a different direction

9. Imperial Japan,
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

10. Imperial Japan,
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

11. Imperial Japan,

12. Imperial Japan, 1931-1945 Invasion of China in 1937
Japan massacres between 200, ,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

13. Imperial Japan,
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

14. Imperial Japan,
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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. War in the Far East: Japan
Japan negotiates as it prepares for war
Japanese government conflicted about negotiations
US “maneuvered” Japan into war

19. War in the Far East: Japan
Possibility that war could have been prevented

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

25. Pearl Harbor
Destroys much of American Pacific fleet, but three aircraft carriers at sea during attack
2403 Americans killed

26. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. Atomic Bombs
POL 315 paper

31. World War II Outcomes
Germany, Japan and much of Europe/Asia devastated 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

32. World War II Outcomes Japan occupied by American forces
Germany temporarily divided into four zones (eventually West and East Germany)
Great uncertainty over future of Europe
Creation of state of Israel, as homeland for post- Holocaust 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

33. World War II Outcomes
Cold War between US and USSR by 1947

34. Outcomes
Beginning of the nuclear era

35. The End