Paper #2

Democratic Struggle in Prewar Japan

Write an essay on the subject of Japan's struggle to establish a more open, democratic social and political system during the 1890-1932 period. Perhaps you would want to select some events from the women's lives included in Loftus' book, Telling Lives, (2-4 examples?) and place these experiences in their appropriate historical context. In other words, drawing on the textbook, plus the online and handout materials we have discussed in class, describe the social and political order against which these individuals were reacting and making their choices. For example, what drove women like Oku, Sata and Fukunaga to choose to live their lives the way they did? Takai and Nishi were both working women, but how did their lives differ? What do we learn from the stories of all of these women? What were some of their aspirations, and how did their visions conflict with what was possible given the particularistic notions about the kokutai found in the Constitution, the Imperial Rescript on Education and the Peace Preservation Law?

Possible Avenues:
You may wish to emphasize what is going on with the economy (in order to explain the rise of factories, the union movement, strikes, etc.). Or, you may want to look at the political framework established by the MEIJI CONSTITUTION and how the development of the POLITICAL PARTY MOVEMENT, culminating in the passage of the UNIVERSAL MANHOOD SUFFRAGE BILL, was able to occur this framework. What were the strengths and limitations of the political parties? How democratic was this framework? How does the broader notion of "Imperial Democracy" (Andrew Gordon) address the Smith critique that Taisho Democracy was too narrow and too shallow? What challenges did traditional Western liberalism pose for the existing order? How does this contrast with more radical Marxist views?

Approximate length, 6-8 pp. Due date, Tuesday Nov. 9.