Description
Book SynopsisCharting the rise and fall of Japan, the model developing country of the nineteenth century, the overthrow of the traditional Asian balance of power, and enduring animosities, this is an essential guide for those interested in Asian and world history, comparative politics, international relations, security studies and Asian politics today.
Trade Review'In clear and vibrant prose, Paine leads the reader through a tumultuous century and a half of Japanese history, focusing on the way Japan's leaders positioned their country in the world, from the Meiji period, through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and into the period of stunning growth after WWII. A vital contribution not just to the history of Japan, but to the study of global geopolitics and grand strategy.' Tonio Andrade, Emory University, Atlanta
'Professor Paine has produced a comprehensive, very readable book that examines Japan's precipitous decline into a century of militarism from the 1860s to 1945. Her sophisticated and nuanced scholarship would serve as an excellent companion to a standard historical textbook. Students would profit from reading assignments in Paine's book that correspond to historical periods. Paine's excellent summaries of Japanese sources are clear, concise, and eminently understandable. Her arguments are carefully reasoned and abundantly annotated. In short, Paine's slim book should be required reading for any scholar of modern Japanese history.' Louis G. Perez, Illinois State University
'After a series of wars drawing upon a maritime strategy of limited intervention in regional affairs, the Japanese shift towards a strategy of unrestrained continental expansion across the confines of East Asia led the country to international political isolation, military overextension, and Imperial implosion. This book will offer an ideal introduction to the strategic challenges and military history of one of East Asia's most crucial actors to students of East Asian security, strategy, and international history alike.' Alessio Patalano, King's College London
'… the book's interpretation of the Japanese case as a cautionary tale in the history of international relations is compelling.' Tak Matsusaka, H-Diplo
'The in-depth discussions of particular military campaigns make for a valuable reference. Ravina's book is rich in cultural and intellectual history, and its wideranging geographical and temporal boundaries make for an engaging read for those interested in macro-level analyses.' Scott C. M. Bailey, Journal of World History
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; 1. The Meiji generation; 2. The First Sino-Japanese War (1894–5); 3. The Russo-Japanese War (1904–5); 4. The transition from a maritime to a continental security paradigm; 5. The Second Sino-Japanese War (1931–41); 6. The General Asian War (1941–5); 7. Japan betwixt maritime and continental world orders; Selected bibliography; Index.
