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Author Kolmaš, Michal, 1985- author.

Title National identity and Japanese revisionism : Abe Shinzō's vision of a beautiful Japan and its limits / Michal Kolmaš
Published London ; New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2019
©2019

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Description 1 online resource
Series Routledtge studies on the Asia-Pacific region
Routledge studies on the Asia-Pacific region.
Contents Introduction : changing Japan? -- National identity and the study of contemporary Japan -- Sedimentation of the pacifist identity -- Abe's convictions and ideological background -- Deconstructing Abe's narrative on constitution change, school education, security policy and regional leadership -- Conclusion : a limited change for Japan
Summary "Japan has experienced a radical shift in its self-perception. Before and during World War II, Japan's Bushido militarism led to its great colonial ventures in Asia and beyond. After the humiliating defeat and inscription of a peaceful constitution by the United States however, Japan embraced a peaceful and antimilitarist identity, which was based in its war-prohibiting Constitution and the foreign policy of the Yoshida doctrine. For most of the twentieth century, this 'merchant' identity was unusually stable. Japan refrained from any power policies outside of its borders, including United Nations peacekeeping missions, and focused on economic recovery and foreign trade. In the last three decades, however, Japan's self-perception along with its foreign policy seems to have changed. Gradually, Tokyo has conducted a number of foreign policy measures as well as internal symbolic gestures that would have been unthinkable a few decades ago and that symbolize a new and more confident Japan. Japanese politicians - including the Prime Minister Abe Shinzō - have adopted a new discourse depicting pacifism as a hindrance, rather than asset, to Japan's foreign policy. Japan is at a crossroads. But while political elites and a portion of the Japanese public call for re-articulation of Japan's peaceful national identity, there are still those who cherish the long-held idea of pacifism. Kolmaš connects the dots between national identity theory and Japanese revisionism in order to better understand and predict the direction of a changing Japan"-- Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (Site, viewed 02/22/2021)
Subject National characteristics, Japanese.
HISTORY -- Asia -- Japan.
Diplomatic relations
National characteristics, Japanese
Nationalism
Politics and government
SUBJECT Japan -- Politics and government -- 1989- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh95001180
Japan -- Foreign relations -- 1989- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh93001011
Subject Japan
Form Electronic book
LC no. 2020692575
ISBN 9780203702789
0203702786
9781351334396
1351334395
9781351334402
1351334409
9781351334389
1351334387