Authoritarian Regimes

Case Study: Fascist Japan

Chapter 5
 Chapter Objectives
• The beginnings of Fascism and how
it became popular

• Factors contributing to the failure of

the democratic government in Japan

• Reasons for the rise of Fascism in

Japan
Essentially…The Chapter
Essentially…The Chapter is
is about…
about…
Failure of the Democratic Government Impact of Economic
•Weakness of the Japanese Parliament Problems
•Corrupt Politicians •Problems at the end of
•Lacked Support of Workers and Peasants
World War I
•1929 Great Depression

WHAT LED TO THE RISE

OF FASCISM IN
Fear of Chinese Nationalism
JAPAN •Anti-Japanese Protests

Unhappiness with Former Allied

Powers
1919 Versailles Treaty
Unhappiness with Japanese
1921-22 Washington Naval Conference
Leaders who wanted Friendly
Mid-1920s Immigration Issues
Ties with the former
Allied Powers
 Chapter Assignment
Due in Week 4
a) To what extent did a weak Japanese
parliament contribute to the failure of the
democratic government in Japan?
Explain your answer. (12m)
b) “Unhappiness with the former Allied
Powers was the most important reason
that led to the rise of fascism in Japan.”
How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. (13m)
 Activity 1
• What is Fascism?
• In groups of 4, come
up with a mind-map
on what Fascism is
about
• You may use your
textbook as a guide
• You have 10 minutes
What is Fascism?
a s c io”
d “F
n w o r
1 9 1 9
i s o rder
h e I talia o li n i in o c i al d
f ro mt o M uss a v i ng s
es e nit a sh
Com d by B
I t aly w
c racy
d e he n em o
F o un im e w t h a t D
w ere
FASCISM t m s d r s
e d at a proble b e lieve s leade
d ey t it
Foun conomic s t h t h a
n d e e o p le a nt and c ra cy
a h e p neffici e emo .
t h t i t D
la r wi ve and n d tha e o pl e
u
Pop effecti st” a he p
F i r o f t
in ion ds ip
Fascism was spread was in “ N a t h a n e rs h
e a k e d i n t he g l ead
throughout the world w b e lie v
e r wa s
s t r o n
ld g row
and in Japan, the idea a s c ism as pow h a ving n s hou with
F
w e ak e v ed in e n a t io p u l ar
was strongly was sm beli th a t th
w e r e po
i ved e they
influenced by the Fasc e l ie
a ls o b d henc ans
Military ists pan e ter
a s c ex I v
F
n g a nd nd WW
stro
g m en a Fascism also brought
yo u n
About a sense of belonging
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
• Why did Fascism seem so attractive?
• The Japanese democratic leaders were weak,
corrupt and inefficient
• As a result, they were unable to solve the
economic problems that plagued the people of
Japan
• Since Fascism valued the nation and worked
towards its progress through strong
leadership, the idea appealed to many
Japanese
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
• The Factors:
1. The Limited Power of the Diet
2. The Damage of Democracy’s Reputation
by Corruption
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems
• Farmer’s Economic Problems
• Workers’ Economic Problems
• Trade Imbalance
• Great Depression of 1929
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
1. The Limited Power of the Diet
• Although there was a parliament (Diet),
power remained with the Emperor and
the Genro (retired statesmen who served
the Emperor)
• No power to make decisions or policies
• Could not control the ministers as they
were under the control of the Emperor
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
1. The Limited Power of the Diet
• As the Diet had no control over the
government, it’s recommendations
were usually overruled
• As a result, the military wielded
much power over the government
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
2. The Damage of Democracy’s Reputation
by Corruption
• As Democratic leaders had to be elected
into the Diet, political parties were
formed with large sponsorship from the
Zaibatsus
• The Zaibatsus sponsored politicians in
order to use the close ties to make the
government pass laws that would benefit
them
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
2. The Damage of Democracy’s
Reputation by Corruption
• Because of these close ties, there
were many rumours of corruption
• Due to these accusations, many
political parties fought in
parliament and disillusioned the
Japanese people
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic
Problems
• Farmers’ Economic Problems
• Lack of land which led to a lack of profits
as the plots were too small to grow more
rice
• Landlords rented land at very high prices
which made life difficult for the farmers
• Tenant unions used violence and tenant-
landlord violence was very common
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems
• Workers’ Economic Problems
• Poor living and working conditions
• Crowded and unhygienic quarters
• Worked long hours
• Locked in working compounds
• Could only leave their working compounds a few
times each month
• Fed up, most workers joined Communist-
sponsored unions
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems
• Trade Imbalance
• Despite its internal problems, Japan
prospered from global trade
• Japan exported silk textiles, china (plates,
cups, etc) and porcelain
• However, there was a trade imbalance
because Japan had to import many raw
materials and food from abroad to feed its
growing population
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems
• The Great Depression of 1929
• Led to a decrease in Japan exports due to
protectionism policies (increase in taxes on
foreign goods to protect home-made
products in difficult economic times)
• Japan was badly affected because the
demand for Japanese silk fell drastically
• This led to economic depression
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
High Taxes on Japanese Silk

More people bought

silk or other type of Effect of
Protectionism High prices of
cloths produced by
on Japanese silk
their home
countries thus Japan
reducing the
demand for
Japanese silk
People in other countries
could not afford to buy
Japanese silk
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
80%
Fall in
Silk Prices

Other businesses Businessmen who

were affected Owned silk factories
Went bankrupt
Impact of
decrease in
The Japanese had silk Price Lower prices led to
less money to fewer goods being
buy other goods produced

Fewer workers were

needed in factories and
more Japanese became unemployed
Effects of
Effects of the
the Great
Great Depression
Depression
on Japan
on Japan Less Demand

CRASH! Loss of Paper Profits

Lower Prices
Less Employment

Less Production

Less Money in Circulation

DEPRESSION
Less Bank Credit Less Employment

Less Demand
Less Building of Factories and Homes
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic
Problems
• The Great Depression of 1929
• The farmers were very badly hit because
they produced silk to earn more income
• Worse still, they were hit by a drought in
1932 and made even less money
• Desperate they even resorted to selling
their daughters to make ends meet
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems
• The Great Depression of 1929
• When the economy failed to improve, they
joined the army or patriotic societies
• The peasants felt that democracy wasn’t
working and instead believed in national
reconstruction, military strength and respect
for authority
• Many young rural men enlisted in the
Japanese army
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
a) To what extent did a weak Japanese parliament contribute to
the failure of the democratic government in Japan? Explain
your answer. (12m)
• Step 1: Explain how the weak Japanese parliament
contributed to the failure of the democratic government in
Japan (Remember to EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPENED and NOT
WHAT IT IS…)
• Step 2: Explain 2 OTHER FACTORS In this case, Damage to
Democracy’s Reputation and the Failure to Solve Economic
Problems
• Step 3: Weigh your answer. How far was the weak Japanese
parliament responsible for the failure of the democratic
government AS COMPARED TO the 2 OTHER FACTORS?
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons Internal Reasons
• American expansion in the • The Showa Restoration
Asia-Pacific region • Patriotic Societies
threatened Japanese plans • Military’s great influence
to control the area
over the government
• Paris Peace Conference
• Military take-over of Japan
1919
• Washington Naval
Conference 1921-22
• London Disarmament
Conference 1930
• Immigration Laws in the
USA in the mid 1930s
• Resurgence of Chinese
Nationalism
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• American expansion in the Asia-Pacific region
threatened Japanese plans to control the area
• Since the opening of trade with Japan by the American
Commodore, Matthew Perry, American businessmen were
interested in doing business in the Asia-Pacific
• The US took control of many Pacific islands to obtain
Guano (bat shit)
• Other islands were used as bases for American trading
ships
• By the 1930s, more of the Pacific region came under
American control including Hawaii and the Philippines
• Japanese militarists believed that Japanese and American
economic and military interests would come into conflict
over who would control the Asia-Pacific
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• Paris Peace Conference 1919
• As Japan had fought with the Allied
Powers in WWI, they requested that the
League of Nations formally recognise
that all races were equal
• As the League of Nations refused, the
Japanese, particularly the Japanese
Army, were unhappy
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• Washington Naval Conference 1921-
1922
• The WNC aimed to reduce the naval
forces of the world’s major powers
• For every 5 ships Britain and the USA
could build, Japan could only build 3
• The Japanese felt that this was an
unfair treaty and an attempt to restrict
Japanese naval power
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• London Disarmament Conference 1930
• Many Japanese were unhappy when PM Hamaguchi
Osachi wanted to ensure further naval arms reduction
with Britain and the USA where he agreed, at the LDC to
further limit Japan’s smaller battleships
• They were also unhappy that he was trying to improve
ties with China
• The PM also reduced spending on the Army to end the
Great Depression
• He was accused by the Army of being too soft and
betraying the country
• He died in 1931 from wounds sustained in an
assassination attempt in 1930
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s
• In 1924, the USA restricted Asian immigration
as part of its isolationist and protectionist
policies
• All Asian immigration (except for Filipinos)
was banned
• Asian immigrants could not become US
citizens even if they had been living there for
a long time
• Asians could not marry Caucasians and were
not allowed to own land
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s
• There was also Asian Segregation (California
Alien Law 1931)
• These new immigration laws angered the
Japanese who saw these policies as a sign
that the Americans thought the Japanese
were inferior
• These laws combined with the effects of the
Great Depression caused many Japanese to
turn away from Democracy and support
Japanese expansion overseas
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism
• Since 1894, Japan had taken advantage of
China’s weak political situation to gain special
trading rights and privileges within China
• The Chinese were angered by the dynastic
decline and the giving of foreign concessions
• Subsequently, there were struggles between
the Chinese warlords and the KMT and CCP
(who both tried to unite China). These
struggles weakened the country
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism
• When the KMT succeeded in uniting
China, the Chinese demanded an
end to the special concessions to
Westerners and Japanese in China
and Manchuria
• Strikes and boycotts hurt Japanese
economic interests in China and
Manchuria
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism
• Japanese Kwantung Army Officers in
Manchuria realised that a strong and
united China could prevent further
Japanese expansion in the country
• They urged Japan to occupy Manchuria
and North China before anti-Japanese
feelings became too strong
• The Japanese military’s call for action
was supported by many Japanese
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
• The Showa Restoration
• From the 1890s the Japanese education system
emphasised:
• Nationalism
• Loyalty to the Emperor
• Self-Sacrifice
• Obedience
• Japan’s response to the Great Depression and
foreign opposition to its growing empire was the
“Showa Restoration” (Bright Harmony)
• Western values were characterised to be selfish,
greedy and individualistic and Japanese virtues such
as self-sacrifice for the nation were promoted
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
• The Showa Restoration
• The slogan “Sonno Joi” (Restore the
Emperor and Expel the Barbarian!)
• The SR produced youths who were
blindly loyal to the Emperor and the
nation
• These youths also believed in
militarism and an aggressive military
policy
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
• Patriotic Societies
• Since the 1920s, many patriotic societies with
links to the military were set up in Japan (Black
Dragon Society, Cherry Blossom Society)
• They were extremely nationalistic and believed
in Japan’s superiority to other nations
• They wanted to use an aggressive foreign
policy to make Japan strong again
• These societies wanted to get rid of democratic
leaders and set up a military dictatorship on
behalf of the Emperor
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
• Army and Navy’s Great Influence over the
Government
• The Army and Navy had a great influence over
political decisions and acted independently from
the government
• They wanted to copy the West and acquire more
colonies in China and Manchuria
• Military success made the Army and Navy popular
(e.g. Russo-Japanese War) and helped them gain
even more influence over the government.
• Leaders who did not support the military’s
ambitions were often assassinated
Japanese Military Gains
1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War
• Japan defeated China
• It took over Taiwan and demanded that
China give up control over the Liaodung
Peninsula in Manchuria
•This started the Japanese presence in
Manchuria
1914 Japan joined the Allies in WWI
• When Japan entered the war on the
side of the Allies, it occupied the
German territories of Shantung and
parts of the Pacific islands
1915 – Japan Issues the 21 Demands to
China
• Weak Chinese government is forced
to accept Japanese advisors
• Japan is able to keep Shantung
1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War
• Japan defeated Russia
• First Asian power to defeat a major
European power
• Signed the Treaty of Portsmouth in
1905
1905 Treaty of Portsmouth
• Gained the right to build a
railway in Manchuria which was
rich in oil and coal
• Took over Port Arthur, the
Liaodung Peninsula and the
southern Sakhalin Island from
Russia
1905-1910
• Japan’s control of Korea is
achieved
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
• Military Take-over of Japan
• In 1930, the military brought down the Hamaguchi
government by shooting the PM
• In May 1932, the new PM, Inukai, was killed for
criticising the actions of the Japanese Army in
Manchuria
• Succeeding PMs felt pressurised to support the
Kwantung Army in Manchuria or were already
strong supporters of the military
• After 1932, after the Manchurian Incident, the
Japanese government began to follow the aims of
the Army
 What led
What led to
to the
the Failure
Failure of
of the
the
Democratic Government
Democratic Government in in Japan?
Japan?
b) “Unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was the most
important reason that led to the rise of fascism in Japan.”
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your
answer. (13m)
• Step 1: You can start by saying that “Unhappiness with the
former Allied Powers was a reason for the rise of fascism in
Japan” BUT there are other factors as well (e.g. See Slide 23)
• Explain how unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was
led to the rise of fascism in Japan.” Remember to EXPLAIN
HOW IT HAPPENED and NOT WHAT IT IS…)
• Step 2: Explain 2 OTHER FACTORS (Aqmal ~ 2 more
factors…not ONE…)
• Step 3: Weigh your answer. How important was unhappiness
with the former Allied Powers responsible for the rise of
fascism in Japan AS COMPARED TO the 2 OTHER
FACTORS?
 What led to the Rise of
Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons Internal Reasons
• American expansion in the • The Showa Restoration
Asia-Pacific region • Patriotic Societies
threatened Japanese plans • Military’s great influence
to control the area
over the government
• Paris Peace Conference
• Military take-over of Japan
1919
• Washington Naval
Conference 1921-22
• London Disarmament
Conference 1930
• Immigration Laws in the
USA in the mid 1930s
• Resurgence of Chinese
Nationalism