This book explores the historical writings of postwar Japanese Marxists - who were, and who continue to be, surprisingly numerous in the Japanese academic world. It shows how they developed in their historical writing ideas of 'radical nationalism', which accepted presupposed ideas of Japan's 'ethnic homogeneity', but which they saw as a 'revolutionary subject', creating a sphere of radical political action against the state, the American Occupation and global capital. It compares this approach in both prewar and postwar Marxist historiography, showing that in the postwar period ideas were more elaborate, and put much more emphasis on national education and social mobilization. It also shows how these early postwar discourses have made their way into contemporary ethnic nationalism and revisionism in Japan today. The book's rich and interesting analysis will appeal not just to historians of Japan, but also to those interested in nationalism and Marxism more generally.

Autorentext

Curtis Anderson Gayle holds a D.Phil in Japanese history and political thought from Kyoto University and specializes in modern Japanese intellectual history, nationalism, and international relations.

Inhalt

Acknowledgments 1. National imagery and international Marxism 2. Marxist History and the ethnic nation during the 1930's 3. Rebuilding Marxist history and rethinking the nation: 1945-1950 4. Marxist's history search for new ground: 1948-1950 5. Marxist history and the 'Minzoku Faction': T^oma Seita, Matsumoto Shinpachir^o and Ishimoda Sh^o 6. Minzoku ishiki and modernisation: Eguchi Bokur^o, Suzuki Shir^o, Inoue Kiyoshi and T^oyama Shigeki 7. Desire, mobilisation and internationalism 8. National awakening and postwar nationalism Index