Japanese Economic History

JAPNHIST 160 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

The rapid rise of the Japanese economy throughout its modern history has fascinated historians and economists. Japan was the first non-Western nation to industrialize. This unique development had its roots in the Meiji government’s policy of creating a “strong army and rich country” as a way to survive the world of competitive empires in the nineteenth century. The country achieved great power status during the early twentieth century, but Japan’s economy was devastated after its disastrous defeat during World War II. The defeated nation once again stunned the world as it rose from the ashes of defeat to become one of the greatest economic powers in the postwar period. This course will explore these major economic developments in Japan’s modern history. Why was Japan the only country outside the West to industrialize? What caused the country to achieve such rapid economic growth after WWII? What are some of the major economic challenges facing Japan today? These are some of the questions that we will answer throughout this course.