What do you think?
Rate this book
Monster of the Twentieth Century: Kotoku Shusui and Japan’s First Anti-Imperialist Movement
This extended monograph examines the work of the radical journalist Kotoku Shusui and Japan’s anti-imperialist movement of the early twentieth century. It includes the first English translation of Imperialism (Teikokushugi), Kotoku’s classic 1901 work.
Kotoku Shusui was a Japanese socialist, anarchist, and critic of Japan’s imperial expansionism who was executed in 1911 for his alleged participation in a plot to kill the emperor. His Imperialism was one of the first systematic criticisms of imperialism published anywhere in the world. In this seminal text, Kotoku condemned global imperialism as the commandeering of politics by national elites and denounced patriotism and militarism as the principal causes of imperialism.
In addition to translating Imperialism, Robert Tierney offers an in-depth study of Kotoku’s text and of the early anti-imperialist movement he led. Tierney places Kotoku’s book within the broader context of early twentieth-century debates on the nature and causes of imperialism. He also presents a detailed account of the different stages of the Japanese anti-imperialist movement. Monster of the Twentieth Century constitutes a major contribution to the intellectual history of modern Japan and to the comparative study of critiques of capitalism and colonialism.
Kotoku Shusui was a Japanese socialist, anarchist, and critic of Japan’s imperial expansionism who was executed in 1911 for his alleged participation in a plot to kill the emperor. His Imperialism was one of the first systematic criticisms of imperialism published anywhere in the world. In this seminal text, Kotoku condemned global imperialism as the commandeering of politics by national elites and denounced patriotism and militarism as the principal causes of imperialism.
In addition to translating Imperialism, Robert Tierney offers an in-depth study of Kotoku’s text and of the early anti-imperialist movement he led. Tierney places Kotoku’s book within the broader context of early twentieth-century debates on the nature and causes of imperialism. He also presents a detailed account of the different stages of the Japanese anti-imperialist movement. Monster of the Twentieth Century constitutes a major contribution to the intellectual history of modern Japan and to the comparative study of critiques of capitalism and colonialism.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published June 29, 2015
2 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 25, 2022
"In the brave new world of the twenty-first century, Kōtoku’s work still has lessons for those willing to learn..."
Robert Tierney's work to not only bring forward an English translation of Imperialism: Monster Of The Twentieth Century by Kotoku Shusui, but to give an overview to the history, not just of Shusui but the anti-imperialist movement taking place within Japan, is something to be applauded. Tierney provides important context for this work which was written in 1901, before Hobson and Lenin's writing on the subject. Shusui not only gave an insight into the imperialism of England and the United States at that time, but the emergence of Japanese imperialism which did not fit into the mould as an extension of monopoly capitalism.
Bringing in an analysis of not only the economic factors involved, but the role of patriotism and militarism, there are aspects of this text that remain relevant to modern imperialism. Tierney does point out the shortcomings in Shusui's own thinking at the time (the text pre dates post colonial studies for example), but still treats the text fairly on it's own terms. It brings to light the history of labour struggles throughout Japan at the time, as well as the brutal repression of the socialist and anarchist movements which ultimately led to Shusui's execution, along with eleven others in the High Treason trial.
Anyone interested about anti-imperialist thought or the history of Japan's anti-imperialist movement should definitely read this.
Robert Tierney's work to not only bring forward an English translation of Imperialism: Monster Of The Twentieth Century by Kotoku Shusui, but to give an overview to the history, not just of Shusui but the anti-imperialist movement taking place within Japan, is something to be applauded. Tierney provides important context for this work which was written in 1901, before Hobson and Lenin's writing on the subject. Shusui not only gave an insight into the imperialism of England and the United States at that time, but the emergence of Japanese imperialism which did not fit into the mould as an extension of monopoly capitalism.
Bringing in an analysis of not only the economic factors involved, but the role of patriotism and militarism, there are aspects of this text that remain relevant to modern imperialism. Tierney does point out the shortcomings in Shusui's own thinking at the time (the text pre dates post colonial studies for example), but still treats the text fairly on it's own terms. It brings to light the history of labour struggles throughout Japan at the time, as well as the brutal repression of the socialist and anarchist movements which ultimately led to Shusui's execution, along with eleven others in the High Treason trial.
Anyone interested about anti-imperialist thought or the history of Japan's anti-imperialist movement should definitely read this.
Displaying 1 of 1 review