Japan prepares for total war : the search for economic security, 1919-1941 / Michael A. Barnhart.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barnhart, Michael A., 1951-

Series:

Cornell Studies in Security Affairs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National security--Japan.

National security.

Japan--Economic conditions--1918-1945.

Japan.

Japan--Economic policy.

Japan--History--1912-1945.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (290 pages) : map

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 1987.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The roots of Japan's aggressive, expansionist foreign policy have often been traced to its concern over acute economic vulnerability. Michael A. Barnhart tests this assumption by examining the events leading up to World War II in the context of Japan's quest for economic security, drawing on a wide array of Japanese and American sources.Barnhart focuses on the critical years from 1938 to 1941 as he investigates the development of Japan's drive for national economic self-sufficiency and independence and the way in which this drive shaped its internal and external policies. He also explores American economic pressure on Tokyo and assesses its impact on Japan's foreign policy and domestic economy. He concludes that Japan's internal political dynamics, especially the bitter rivalry between its army and navy, played a far greater role in propelling the nation into war with the United States than did its economic condition or even pressure from Washington. Japan Prepares for Total War sheds new light on prewar Japan and confirms the opinions of those in Washington who advocated economic pressure against Japan.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

1. The Rise of Autarky in Japanese Strategic Planning

2. International Law and Stove-Pipe Hats

3. Merging the Drives for Autarky and Reform

4. The Road to Ruin: Japan Begins the China Incident

5. Bitter Mortgage: The Economic Consequences of the China Incident

6. To Defend the Open Door

7. Swastika and Red Star: The Imperial Army's Economic and Strategic Dilemmas of 1939

8. Caretakers and the Quest for Autarky: Marking Time

9. The Navy's Price: Japan Commences the Southward Advance

10. To Arm and Appease

11. Unsettled Details: The Debate over the Southward Advance

12. Soft Words and Big Sticks

13. A Final Wager: Japan Consummates the Southward Advance

14. The Pacific War

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780801468452

0801468450

9780801468469

0801468469

9780801495298

0801495296

OCLC:

1016851573