POSC 253, Communist Political Thought (Grow) Sp '99

Political Science 325

Spring 1998

SEMINAR: JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND FOREIGN POLICY

Professor: Roy Grow

Office: Willis 406

Phone: x4086 (Office)

Email: rgrow@carleton.edu

Office Hours

Few societies generate as much envy and misunderstanding as does Japan. A century ago, few westerners were much concerned about Japan and those that were thought the Japanese a quaint people who lived in paper houses, ate raw fish, and beheaded people at will. In the 1980's, almost every European and North American talked about the "lessons of Japan" and looked enviously at the Japanese "economic miracle." Many politicians went so far as to argue that Japan juggernaught represented one of the greatest sources of threat to the West. In 1998, Japan represents a different sort of threat: its economy has stalled, its financial institutions seem in disarray, and its actions are said to deepen the "crisis" that is sweeping across Southeast Asia.

How has a society changed so rapidly, and why is it seen in such contradictory ways by outsiders? Very few outsiders comprehend the complex nature of Japanese society or understand the workings of Japanese politics. At best, most vacillate between views that on the one hand see Japan as an Asian version of a western industrial democracy and on the other hand insist that Japan remains a hopelessly parochial and isolated society uninterested in western international mores.

This seminar will examine modern Japan by focusing on social patterns, government institutions, and political activity. The course will examine the politics of modern Japan, study the institutions that shape these politics, evaluate the interrelationship of economic and political activity, and look at Japan's changing role in Asia and the world.

Requirements

A 20-page paper and participation in an in-class task-force simulation exercise are required of each student;
Active participation in class discussions (and completion of the assigned readings before class) is expected;
40% of the grade will be based on in-class participation; 40% of the grade will be based on the final paper (including outline and draft); and 20% will be based on participation in the task-force simulation;
Final papers are due Wednesday June 3.

SEMINAR

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND FOREIGN POLICY

Reading Assignments

Mar 31 INTRODUCTION

PART I: TRADITIONAL JAPANESE POLITICS

Apr 2 TRADITIONAL JAPANESE POLITICS (1)

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 3-36
The Nobility of Failure (handout)

Economist, "The Compass Swings: Tomorrow's Japan" (handout)

Apr 7 TRADITIONAL JAPANESE POLITICS (2)

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 41-77
White and Barnett, Comparing Cultures, Ch. 1 (handout)

BusinessWeek, "Two Japan's: What's Really Happening" (handout)

Apr 9 WESTERN VIEWS OF JAPAN (1)

James Clavell, Shogun
White and Barnett, Comparing Cultures, Ch. 2 (handout)

Apr 14 JAPANESE POLITICAL CULTURE (1)

The 47 Ronin Story (on reserve)
White and Barnett, Comparing Cultures, Ch. 11 (handout)

Okimoto, Inside the Japanese System, pp. 15-24 (handout)

Apr 16 JAPANESE POLITICAL CULTURE (2)

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 125-174
Perrin, Giving Up the Gun

Apr 21 MODERNIZATION AND WAR

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 78-102
The Nobility of Failure (handout)

Apr 23 WAR'S AFTERMATH

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 103-120
Hersey, Hiroshima (on reserve)

Hachiya, Hiroshima Diary (handout)

Smith, Japan Since 1945 Ch. 2

Task force notes due

II. POST-WAR JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

Apr 28 POST-WAR INSTITUTIONS

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 231-260
Smith, Japan Since 1945 Ch. 3

Dazai, The Setting Sun (on reserve)

Apr 30 POST-WAR INSTITUTIONS

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 261-277
Schlesinger, Shadow Shoguns, Part One

Okimoto, Inside the Japanese System, pp. 103-135, 139-143 (handout)

May 5 THE 'ECONOMIC MIRACLE'

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 295-319
Smith, Japan Since 1945 Ch. 4-5

Schlesinger, Shadow Shoguns, Part Two

Okimoto, Inside the Japanese System, pp. 70-79, 144-69 (handout)

Mishima, Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea (reserve)

May 7 EXPORT ECONOMICS AND THE "BUBBLE ECONOMY"

Reischauer, The Japanese Today, pp. 320-342
Smith, Japan Since 1945 Ch.

Schlesinger, Shadow Shoguns, Part Three

May 9 (Field Trip???)

May 12 JAPANESE POLITICS (1)

Johnson, Who Governs, Ch. 6-7
Schlesinger, Shadow Shoguns, Part Four

Paper outline due

May 14 (no class)

May 19 JAPANESE POLITICS (2)

Johnson, Who Governs, Ch. 8-9
Mishima, The Sound of Waves (on reserve)

May 21 JAPAN AND THE WORLD

Johnson, Who Governs, Ch. 13-14
Ezra Vogel, "Japan as Number One in Asia" (handout)