The Origins of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific

Origins of Modern Wars

by Akira Iriye

Akira Iriye's volume in this highly-acclaimed series traces international relations in Asia from 1931, when the Japanese army seized control of Manchuria, to 1941, when Japan went to war against the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands. Professor Iriye examines the origins of the 1941 conflict against this broad background to answer the key question: why did Japan, which had not been able to defeat the isolated and divided forces of China, decide to go to war against so formidable a combination of powers?

While Professor Iriye necessarily focusses on Japan herself, he also discusses the policies of China, the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, Germany and other countries - for these latter, too, played an important role in creating an environment in Asia in which the Japanese perceived themselves to be 'encircled', and believed themselves to be justified in going to war for 'national survival'.

The forty years and more which have elapsed since the end of the war have given historians access to a vast amount of source material. This book sums up the work of many scholars who have examined it; but professor Iriye's overall interpretative framework is unique in setting the Asian-Pacific war in so wide a perspective of international history. His book will be widely welcomed by all those interested in Japanese foreign policy, and Japanese-US relations; and by anyone who wants a better understanding of the region today (and especially the growth of regional self-consciousness within it and its economic development) since in so many ways its crucial points of departure can be traced back into the history of the 1930s.

Above all, it presents to readers a balanced and perceptive account of the coming of the war - a subject still sensitive and disputed, as the "textbook controversy" of the Japanese government's alleged attempt to rewrite history, and the storm of denunciation it provoked throughout Asia, has recently shown. Professor Iriye is an authoritative guide; and he illuminates, clearly and convincingly, the disastrous process by which Japan steadily became alienated from, and ultimately turned against, the international community of which she had hitherto been an established and responsible member.

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, World War II

214 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 1987

About the author

Akira Iriye is an historian of American diplomatic history especially United States-East Asian relations, and international issues. A graduate of Haverford College and Harvard University, he taught at the University of California at Santa Cruz, the University of Rochester, and the University of Chicago before accepting an appointment as Professor of History at Harvard University in 1989, where he became Charles Warren Professor of American History in 1991. He was Director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies from 1991 through 1995. He served as President of the American Historical Association in 1988, and has also served as president for the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations.

Reviews

[Jeff Greason · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the book itself is short and the prose style a bit convoluted, the underlying information in it is essential and not widely known. I found the book particularly depressing in light of the 29 year confusion in American foreign policy since the fall of the Berlin wall, because World War Two is so often thought of as proceeding from design and decisions, while in the Asia/Pacific theater, this book brings out the degree to which accident, error, short-sighted decisions, and even the forces of Japanese domestic politics forced blunder after blunder. In particular, I had not known that there was never a national decision on the part of Japan to enter in to the war in mainland China, from which so many later events flowed -- but that once in, they could not find a way out. I highly recommend the book as an example of what happens when a nation lacks a strategic vision for what they want to achieve in the world, linked to realistic assessments of what they can and cannot do.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the clearest prose, but still well worth the effort. Pearl Harbor was not pre-ordained. A fascinating look into the history of US Japanese relations in the interwar period. Yet, it is more than just good history, this book is worthwhile for anyone looking at US-Russia or US-China relations today. It is also an important contribution to the literature in IR theory of sanctions and their effectiveness.

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, penetrating, profound study of Japanese war aims

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb study of how Japan and the United States became enemies and eventually went to war. Although not a partisan of Imperial Japan, Iriye gives a powerful picture of the Japanese point of view.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was rough and some of the writing was too stiff compared to contemporary history books... If I ever read the words 'the latter' again....

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

从日美作为华盛顿体系的倡导同盟，到其善用欧洲经济危机各国的欧美的自顾不暇而入侵中国，而在英美限制其东亚尤其是南亚扩张策略时寻求德意日轴心国与苏结盟来对抗英美，在策略选择上的失误导致其最终孤立而孤注一掷偷袭珍珠港对美宣战将亚洲和太平洋带入二战，其中的外相，陆军和海军的不同战略的妥协 归咎于日本对于中国战事的以及对其盟国德国的误判，而不过于生存的不安感容易导致过度的野心和过于乐观的估计