Authoritarian Regimes

1
Authoritarian Regimes

• Case Study Fascist Japan
• Chapter 5

2
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

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EssentiallyThe Chapter is about

• Impact of Economic Problems
• Problems at the end of
• World War I
• 1929 Great Depression

• Failure of the Democratic Government
• Weakness of the Japanese Parliament
• Corrupt Politicians
• Lacked Support of Workers and Peasants

WHAT LED TO THE RISE OF FASCISM IN JAPAN

• Fear of Chinese Nationalism
• Anti-Japanese Protests

Unhappiness with Former Allied Powers 1919
Versailles Treaty 1921-22 Washington Naval
Conference Mid-1920s Immigration Issues
Unhappiness with Japanese Leaders who wanted
Friendly Ties with the former Allied Powers
4
Chapter AssignmentDue in Week 4

• To what extent did a weak Japanese parliament
  contribute to the failure of the democratic
  government in Japan? Explain your answer. (12m)
• 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)

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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

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What is Fascism?
Comes from the Italian word Fascio
Founded by Benito Mussolini in 1919
Founded at a time when Italy was having social
disorder and economic problems
Popular with the people as they believed that
Democracy was ineffective and inefficient and
that its leaders were weak
Fascism believed in Nation First and that
Democracy was weak as power was in the hands of
the people. Fascism believed in having strong
leadership
Fascism was spread throughout the world and in
Japan, the idea was strongly influenced by the
Military
Fascists also believed that the nation should
grow strong and expand hence they were popular
with young men and WWI veterans
Fascism also brought About a sense of belonging
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Benito Mussolino
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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• The Factors
• The Limited Power of the Diet
• The Damage of Democracys Reputation by
  Corruption
• Failure to Solve Economic Problems
• Farmers Economic Problems
• Workers Economic Problems
• Trade Imbalance
• Great Depression of 1929

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• The Limited Power of the Diet
• As the Diet had no control over the government,
  its recommendations were usually overruled
• As a result, the military wielded much power over
  the government

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• The Damage of Democracys 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• The Damage of Democracys 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

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Zaibatsus
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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?
High Taxes on Japanese Silk
More people bought silk or other type of cloths
produced by their home countries thus reducing
the demand for Japanese silk
Effect of Protectionism on Japan
High prices of Japanese silk
People in other countries could not afford to buy
Japanese silk
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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?
80 Fall in Silk Prices
Businessmen who Owned silk factories Went bankrupt
Other businesses were affected
Impact of decrease in silk Price
The Japanese had less money to buy other goods
Lower prices led to fewer goods being produced
Fewer workers were needed in factories and more
Japanese became unemployed
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Effects of the Great Depression 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
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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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 wasnt working
  and instead believed in national reconstruction,
  military strength and respect for authority
• Many young rural men enlisted in the Japanese
  army

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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 Democracys 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?

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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
• Paris Peace Conference 1919
• Washington Naval Conference 1921-22
• London Disarmament Conference 1930
• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s
• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism

• Internal Reasons
• The Showa Restoration
• Patriotic Societies
• Militarys great influence over the government
• Military take-over of Japan

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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

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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

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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
  worlds 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

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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 Japans
  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

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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

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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

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What led to the Rise of Fascism in Japan?

• External Reasons
• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism
• Since 1894, Japan had taken advantage of Chinas
  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

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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

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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 militarys call for action was
  supported by many Japanese

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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
• Japans 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

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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

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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
  Japans 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

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What led to the Rise of Fascism in Japan?

• Internal Reasons
• Army and Navys 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 militarys
  ambitions were often assassinated

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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

• 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

• 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

• 1905-1910
• Japans control of Korea is achieved

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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

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What led to the Failure of the Democratic
Government in Japan?

• 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
  factorsnot 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?

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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
• Paris Peace Conference 1919
• Washington Naval Conference 1921-22
• London Disarmament Conference 1930
• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s
• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism

• Internal Reasons
• The Showa Restoration
• Patriotic Societies
• Militarys great influence over the government
• Military take-over of Japan

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