Sonno Joi, Restore The Emperor And Expel The Barbarians, Essays

Sonno joi, "Restore the Emperor and expel the Barbarians," was the battle cry that ushered in the Showa Restoration in Japan during the 1930's.Footnote1 The Showa Restoration was a combination of Japanese nationalism, Japanese expansionism, and Japanese militarism all carried out in the name of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito. Unlike the Meiji Restoration, the Showa Restoration was not a resurrection of the Emperor's powerFootnote2, instead it was aimed at restoring Japan's prestige. During the 1920's, Japan appeared to be developing a democratic and peaceful government. It had a quasi-democratic governmental body, the Diet,Footnote3 and voting rights were extended to all male citizens.Footnote4 Yet, underneath this seemingly placid surface, lurked momentous problems that lead to the Showa Restoration. The transition that Japan made from its parliamentary government of the 1920's to the Showa Restoration and military dictatorship of the late 1930s was not a sudden transformation. Liberal forces were not toppled by a coup overnight. Instead, it was gradual, feed by a complex combination of internal and external factors. The history that links the constitutional settlement of 1889 to the Showa Restoration in the 1930s is not an easy story to relate. The transformation in Japan's governmental structure involved; the historical period between 1868 and 1912 that preceded the Showa Restoration. This period of democratic reforms was an underlying cause of the militarist reaction that lead to the Showa Restoration. The transformation was also feed by several immediate causes; such as, the downturn in the global economy in 1929Footnote5 and the invasion of Manchuria in 1931.Footnote6 It was the convergence of these external, internal, underlying and immediate causes that lead to the military dictatorship in the 1930's. The historical period before the Showa Restoration, 1868-1912, shaped the political climate in which Japan could transform itself from a democracy to a militaristic state. This period is known as the Meiji Restoration.Footnote7 The Meiji Restoration of 1868 completely dismantled the Tokugawa political order and replaced it with a centralized system of government headed by the Emperor who served as a figure head.Footnote8 However, the Emperor instead of being a source of power for the Meiji Government, became its undoing. The Emperor was placed in the mystic position of demi-god by the leaders of the Meiji Restoration. Parliamentarians justified the new quasi-democratic government of Japan, as being the "Emperor's Will." The ultra-nationalist and militaristic groups took advantage of the Emperor's status and claimed to speak for the Emperor.Footnote9 These then groups turned the tables on the parliamentarians by claiming that they, not the civil government, represented the "Imperial Will." The parliamentarians, confronted with this perversion of their own policy, failed to unite against the militarists and nationalists. Instead, the parliamentarians compromised with the nationalists and militarists groups and the general populace took the nationalists' claims of devotion to the Emperor at face value, further bolstering the popularity of the nationalists.Footnote10 The theory of "Imperial Will" in Japan's quasi-democratic government became an underlying flaw in the government's democratic composition. It was also during the Meiji Restoration that the Japanese economy began to build up its industrial base. It retooled, basing itself on the western model. The Japanese government sent out investigators to learn the ways of European and American industries.Footnote11 In 1889, the Japanese government adopted a constitution based on the British and German models of parliamentary democracy. During this same period, railroads were constructed, a banking system was started and the samurai system was disbanded.Footnote12 Indeed, it seemed as if Japan had successfully made the transition to a western style industrialized state. Almost every other non-western state failed to make this leap forward from pre-industrial nation to industrialized power. For example, China failed to make this leap. It collapsed during the 1840s and the European powers followed by Japan, sought to control China by expropriating its raw materials and exploiting its markets. By 1889, when the Japanese ConstitutionFootnote13 was adopted, Japan, with a few minor setbacks, had been able to make the transition to a world power through its expansion of colonial holdings.Footnote14 During the first World War, Japan's economy and colonial holdings continued to expand as the western powers were forced to focus on the war raging in Europe. During the period 1912-1926, the government continued on its democratic course. In 1925, Japan extended voting rights to all men and the growth of the merchant class continued.Footnote15 But these democratic trends, hid the fact that it was only the urban elite's who were benefiting from the growing industrialization. The peasants, who outnumbered the urban population were touched little by the momentous changes this lead to discontent in a majority of the populace. During the winter of 1921-1922, the Japanese government participated in a conference

All Our Relations essays

All Our Relations essays In Winona LaDukes, All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life documents the historic pillaging and exploitation of Native Americans then and today. LaDukes inspirational voice to native peoples resistance to environmental devastation is uncanny. In this book, the use of updated detailed maps and native pictures help frame each chapter vividly. The book consists of 10 chapters detailing in environmental, spiritual and human conditions, and the struggles of indigenous peoples from Awkwesasne to Hawaii. LaDuke's introduction prompts the reader that over the last 150 the earth has witnessed the largest extinction of species since the Ice Age as well as the loss of more than 2,000 nations of native peoples in the Western Hemisphere. She gives evidence that cultural diversity helps to ensure biodiversity. Where indigenous people maintain their traditions one can often find an enclave of biodiversity. This is one of the unifying themes of the book. LaDuke ends the chapter with the description of a ceremony and the determination of native peoples to continue their commitment to the land and the people of the land. Although, the setting begins with the tone of depression, the book goes on to achieve parallels amongst certain tribes across the earth for hope and sanctuary. The first chapter, in All Our Relations presents a brief history of the Mohawk legacy in the Great Lakes region and contrasts it with the industrial pollution of Akwesasne that has led to PCB contamination of mothers' milk. The book details the work of Katsi Cook and others analyzing their food chain and ultimately forcing General Motors to clean up its contamination of the Great Lakes region. LaDuke asserts, In October 1983, after 25 years of dumping toxics, General Motors was fine $507,000 by the EPA for unlawful disposal...2 ...

The making of the modern Oman since 1970 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The making of the modern Oman since 1970 - Essay Example the fact that Oman did not have sufficient infrastructure like cemented roads, bridges, sea and airports, telecommunications and broadcasting systems, health care and educational facilities made Oman’s economic progress impossible to achieve. (Omanet.om, 2008a) For this study, the researcher will examine the major key factors that have lead to the rapid transformation and modernisation of the Sultanate of Oman. To provide the readers with a brief introduction, the researcher will discuss about Oman’s geographic information and history. Eventually, the differences on the economic outlook between Sultan Qaboos and the past sultans with regards to the economic and social development progress in the country will be highlighted. With regards to this matter, the researcher will examine the past and current economic development on oil, trade, and agriculture and fishes industry; the education and health system; as well as the communication and transportation development. In line with globalization, the researcher will discuss related economic issues in Oman’s foreign affairs. Prior to the conclusion, potential developmental perspectives and other significant strategies that will keep Oman competitive in the global market will be exa mined. The Sultanate of Oman, having a total land area of 309,500 sq. km., is situation on the north side of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), east side of the Arabian Peninsula, the northwest area of Saudi Arabia, and the southwest of the Republic of Yemen. (U.S. Department of State, 2008) Basically, the main part of Oman is separated from the northern part of the state by the Sharjah and Fujairah (UAE). (Omanet.om, 2008a) (See Appendix I – Oman’s Geographical Map on page 20) As of 2006, Oman’s estimated population has reached a total of 3.2 million including the 577,000 immigrants. The country has a wide variety of ethnic groups including: Arabs, Baluchi, East African (Zanzabari) as well as South Asian’s Indians,