Democratization and Expansionism

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Democratization and Expansionism Historical Lessons, Contemporary Challenges

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By Masayo Ohara

Foreword by James E. Goodby

ISBN: 0-275-97043-4

ISBN-13: 978-0-275-97043-7

DOI:

280 pages, figures, maps, photos, tables

Praeger Publishers

Publication: 6/30/2001

List Price: $119.95 (UK Sterling Price: £70.00)

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Media Type: Hardcover

Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4

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Reviews:

Democratization and Expansionism will appeal to most readers primarily for the interesting story that it tells about pre-World War II Japanese political development....[t]imely in light of current scholarly and policy attention to democratization and political development. This review provides a useful reminder that the process of political development is not necessarily uniform or linear in accordance with popular liberal orthodoxy. In addition, Ohara's exercise inspecting social coalitions may stimulate other social scientists in the future to employ related concepts within systematic comparisons of developing societies, past and present.
—www.apsanet.org June 2003

Description: International environment is a crucial factor in determining the developmental path pursued by democratizing great powers. Democracies are thought to be less belligerent than traditional autocracies, yet Japan, Germany, Italy became reckless expansionist powers during their democratization processes. Based upon historical case studies, this work suggests a general pattern regarding democratization and foreign expansion by examining the degree to which the military is oriented, and the cohesion of economic social groups in the face of military assault. Ohara then attempts to draw lessons useful for present-day democratization in China and Russia. Military social groups--the king and the nobility--dominate domestic society in a traditional autocracy. A secure domestic position allows the sovereign to focus on international survival and dominance. However, during the democratization period emerging economic and social groups--bourgeoisie and labor--challenge the dominance of the military social groups. When the military regards this challenge as more threatening than international survival, the possibility for a state to become a reckless expansionist emerges. Identifying possible causal relationships and producing realistic policy prescriptions is not enough to avert the trend, Ohara contends, one must propose multiple policy options viable at any given point, as well as various fall back plans to be implemented as necessary.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Japanese State-Formation and Industrialization and the Emergence of the Social Groups
Formation of Anti-Military Coalition
Formation of Pro-Military Coalition
Generalization
Conclusion for Policymakers: Tentative Policy Application
Conclusion for Scholars: A Case for Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Index

LC Card Number: 00-069861

LCC Class: DS888

Dewey Class: 952


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