Army, Empire and Politics in Meiji Japan

Dramatic innovations in modern Japan include a mass army, overseas empire, and constitutional polity. This is the first book to link these changes in the Meiji era (1868-1912). It focuses on the life of General Katsura Taro, one of the architects of the modern military, a leading figure in Japanese colonialism, and prime minister through the 1900s. Challenging the received wisdom about Japanese militarism and imperialism, it exposes the army's ambivalence about empire but also its positive role in political change.

Autorentext

Stuart Lone is Senior Lecturer, East Asian History, University New Southwales.

Inhalt
Acknowledgements Introduction The Imperial Army Imperial Japan at War 1894-95 Empire: Taiwan and 'The Taiwan Society' Burdens of Empire: Army Minister 1989-1900 The Boxer War Political Campaigns: Prime-Minister 1901-04 Wars and Peace 1904-05 The Army and Continental Imperialism 1906-07 The Oriental Society: Imperial Education and Enterprise 1907-08 Empire and Order 1908-10 The End of Meiji: Army, Empire and Taisho Politics 1911-13 Conclusion Bibliography Index