Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA thoughtful and elegant writer, Marc Gallicchio has emerged as one of the leading historians of American–East Asian relations. No one knows the immediate post–World War II era as well. -- Warren I. Cohen, distinguished professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center
This latest volume in the 'Total War: New Perspectives on World War II' series is a fascinating account of the days following Japan's sudden surrender in 1945. . . . This belongs in all serious WW II or Cold War collections. Highly recommended. * CHOICE *
Adds unexpected and welcome flavour to what would otherwise be a rather conventional study of the interaction between foreign policy and military planning. . . . What Gallicchio has managed to convey, above all, is the profound confusion that beset U.S. policy in the Far East in the two years following the Japanese surrender. Overbearing personalities clashed over priorities, the looming confrontation with the Soviet Union heightened tensions, and the domestic pressures for military retrenchment meant that the resources available to impose American will were never matched to the more grandiose schemes of those who wanted to translate the recent victory over Japan into a dominant position on the East Asian mainland. * Journal of American Studies *
Clearly written and concise study. . . . Gallicchio covers the dramatic shift in President Harry S. Truman's initial intention to seek cooperation with the Soviet Union to secure Japan's surrender and the impact of such sentiments. Gallicchio's book derives its arguments from a diverse assortment of primary and secondary sources. This extensive research is summarized in an individual bibliographic essay for every chapter. . . . Gallicchio also makes excellent use of quotations and insightful anecdotes. He relies on firsthand recollections of American soldiers. * American Historical Review *
Marc Gallicchio's authoritative account of the interaction and friction between military planning, operations, and diplomacy brilliantly illuminates the complexities of war termination. His comprehensive analysis of events in postwar Asia provides us with a fresh context to appreciate the perils of peacemaking. -- Edward J. Drea, U.S. Army Center of Military History (retired), author of MacArthur's Ultra
Intended for undergraduates and general audiences, this brief but detailed overview can benefit scholars in the field as well. The Scramble for Asia relies on both recent scholarship and the author's prior work with contemporary soldiers' and journalists' materials to offer a new, synthetic interpretation of American policy making in the immediate postwar period in Asia that is at once comprehensive and persuasive. * Pacific Affairs *
Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1: Intermission Chapter 2: The Politics of Surrender Chapter 3: The High Water Mark Chapter 4: Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy Chapter 5: Occupational Hazards Chapter 6: A Lingering Presence Conclusion: No Peace for Asia Selected Bibliography
