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| The US military planners made an arbitrary split of Korea (1945; pre-Korean War) bisected on the 38th degree latitude line to prevent Russian/USSR influence to spread throughout the entire country. This was a decision made just as Japan was leaving their overstayed colonial visit in Korea, amidst the end of WWII. It was designed to be temporary, but became permanent because of the onset of the Cold War (US got lazy/forgot). Koreans were not informed in the decision process and thus left North Korea having more industry and South Korea having more population and agriculture. Led to imbalance and one contributing factor of the Korean War. |
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| 1937-8; Japan captured Nanjing during the Sino-Japanese War and massacred/raped/beat/destroyed everyone and everything there (est. 300,000 deaths). Japan’s government did nothing to prevent or restrain them. Japan’s behavior explained as cathartic (pent up anger/rage taken out on Chinese), reciprocal-dominance complex (Japanese constructs often beaten by their superiors, given little food), and due to the Chinese being dehumanized (via Japanese propaganda). No police where left in Nanjing after the government moved it’s capital (formerly in Nanjing) to Cho Ching, a backwards-thinking philosophy that by moving as far as way as possible it would give them time to thwart any Japanese further advances. Japan continued into China throughout the late 1930’s allocating resources (tin, rubber, gas, steel for war machines). US responds with trade embargo (1941) banning oil and raw materials. Led up to World War II. LED UP TO 2nd SINO-JAPANESE WAR, this the quagmire that sparked it. Japan white-washed the incident out of textbooks, never apologized. |
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| May 1980 in Kwangju, S. Korea; post-Park’s military control of South Korea, another military coup seized control of the country enraging citizens (esp. workers and students). Kwangju was home to prominent political dissidents, most notably Dae-Jung, and minimally represented in core government (e.g. appointed gov. officials) making it a hot bed for political activism. A protest happened as a reaction to this reinforcement of martial law, the jailing of Dae-Jung, and university students being beaten for studying for their final exams. Started as a peaceful protest and turned into a massacre, with unconstrained military brutality (clear loss of military control). This increased animosity between S. Korea and the US, who back the SK military. Aftermath provided a contributing factor for SK’s eventual democratic government, leading to free elections of presidents (1987), and other politicians, allowing civilian and opposition leaders to represent in the gov. SK equivalent of Tiananmen Square. Additional contribution of eventual democracy was reaction to harsh crackdown seen internationally. |
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| 1974-5; Deng Xiaoping’s ambitious plan to modernize and liberalize China’s economy through Agriculture, Industry, Technology, and Science. Deng wanted to shift China’s development based on realistic production, and move away from a political focus (instead, economic development). This opened up China to the outside world. One positive change, from the Agriculture modernization, led to peasants being able to be selective for what they grow and specialize in own local produce as well as hire labor & buy machines (extra money being made – profit). A negative impact was the increased greed and corruption amongst citizens and party members/cadres, as well as environmental degradation/pollution due to quick industrial setup. |
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| Japan, 1949 post-WWII, set up the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Most important factor in post-war Japan’s economic growth. In charge of picking select industries and giving them preferential access to cheap loans, new technology, etc. thus promoting economic growth. Very successful overall in stimulating growth in key industries (ship industries, motorcycles), namely EXPORTS. Prevented imports, dissuaded by using high tariffs (paternalism through protectionism), gave Japanese goods and environment to develop. Also, imposed limited access to foreign currency. |
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| China, 2008; manifesto signed initially by 350 intellects and activists to promote political reform, democratization, and human rights in the CCP. Most recent challenge to the CCP. Most noted political dissident (arrested) is Liu Xiaobo. One point of the manifesto is end the political educational indoctrination. China has responded by banning it’s discussing in the media, not allowed to be mentioned. Aside from this banishment, CCP hasn’t formally responded or publically condemned it, yet. |
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| 1959, post-war Japan; 1st non-royalty/commoner wed into the imperial family. Machiko attained celebrity status as the wife-to-be of a Prince in Japan. Seen as a “symbol of democracy” because it was framed as a non-arranged marriage, unheard of at that time, thus being based on this foreign concept of “love”. Seen democratic because it was a perceived voluntary choice by either person, and as a symbolic connection of the imperial family/emperor and the common citizens. Shortcomings of this was that it was all arranged from the very beginning, and staged to look as if they met, fell in love, then got married (imperial media department screened women, chose Machiko, and essentially wrote a screenplay for the relationship). Also, Machiko didn’t really represent the common citizen, came from a very affluent socio-economic background, and well educated. |
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| “Supreme Truth”; a “religious movement” (cult) founded in Japan in 1984 by blind masseuse, Shoko Asahara. Initially posed as a yoga and meditation group. Large following in Russia. Responsible for the 1995 sarin gas (toxic nerve gas) planted on subways leading to prime government districts, resulting in 13 deaths and numerous injuries (psychological/psychosomatic). 1 of many new religions produced after the burst of the economic bubble beginning in the late 1980’s. Concern about the people that joined the group (middle-upper class educated privileged background), propelled to join by Japanese pressures of bullying in schools, conformity/pressure to conform, constraint on individualism, stringent examination/school system producing estranged people. Reflected the future direction/generation of Japan. Reaction = increase in Japanese nationalism, revision of wartime history/downplay of wartime atrocities (angering Asian neighbors). Koizumo (PM from 2001-6) helped lift this concern for disconnect in the 90’s, aided to revival of economy. |
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| President of South Korea (1948-60). Fled during Korean War, returned to Korea in 1945. Rhee was part of the US imposed conservative, democratic government push. Rhee was put place as an anti-communist leader. He was a political refugee, early Christian convert, and was tortured and imprisoned by Japanese influencing his fleeing in 1911. Wanted eventual reuniting of a single Korea, used guerilla tactics to stage fights between both sides, all along the coast and in South Korea (through communists’ attacks riled up in the south. Augmented and heightened tensions between North and South. Eventually led to NK preemptively striking SK, took Seoul, and gained majority control of SK. Responsible for a large amount of political oppression, and big reason/factor of Korean War. Characterized immediate post-war SK politics; dictator. Helped repressed post-colonial repression… |
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| Post-economic Japanese growth negative “shock” (1971). The US, formerly opened to Japan with no tariffs (aiding J’s economy) went from the creditor to the debitor (trade imbalance). Nixon responded by 1) imposing a limit on Japanese textile imports to US; 2) implanting a 10% surcharge/tariff on all goods imported from Japan; 3) took the dollar off the system of fixed exchanges, leaving the yen to float freely on it’s own in the international currency community (value now determined by competition/strength of Japan’s economy instead of arbirtarly imposed exchange rate claimed by US; a real sense of worth). Led to increased value of the yen (14% after 6 months) and further produced more expensive costs for imports from Japan and increased company profits. |
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| Mao Zedong, China, 1964 (1st publication); quotes from Chairman Mao published by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) (1964-76). Collection of Mao quotes from his speeches and publications. “Little Red Book” is the Western name given to the book due to it’s small pocketsize. LBR is the most printed book written in the 20th cent. (5 – 6.5 billion copies printed), used to further indoctrinate Chinese citizens by making it an unwritten law to carry this book around at all times and have read it (beaten by Red Guards if not on you at the time). Mandatory to study this in school, workplace, industry, agriculture, etc. during working hours. Logic was it would be inspiring and increase productivity (“enlightening”). Deng’s presence in mid-1970’s diminished significance and use of book. GOAL = indoctrinate. Not carrying or knowing a certain quote from the book = not loyal (in the eyes of the Red Army), thus susceptible to attacks/death from the Red Guards. Fueled fanaticism during the Cultural Revolution. It did matter during the CR (doesn’t really), Mao = justified things during the CR. Used the LRB to reinject himself, reclaim power in the 60s. |
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