Japan: Light of Asia? War and Decolonization in Asia

Admission requirements

Students should have successfully completed both second-year seminars, one of which is part of the same specialisation as the present third-year seminar.

Description

The period of the Second World War in Asia is characterised by a diverse range of interaction between people and cultures. Japan’s imperialist ambitions resulted in the military confrontation with Allied forces. The rise of Japan as a major power gave way to new ideas about Asia, warfare, modernity and the dichotomy between East and West. The Japanese promised their ‘Asian brothers’ to help to cast off the colonial yoke, to unite all Asians and to bring prosperity. The imperial government indeed replaced colonial governments by local leaders, and in a number of countries reinforced revolutionary movements eventually realized independence from their colonial rulers. The policies had a downside as well. Population policies, shortages of food and goods and the mobilisation of millions of people to contribute to the war effort resulted in the suffering and disillusionment of the people.

In this seminar the different types of interaction resulting from Japan’s imperial ambitions will be explored. This will be done by examining the policies, the local responses and the impact of the Japanese occupation of Asia. Special attention will be paid to Japan’s role in the revolutionary movements in Asia, as depicted in the different national histories. Both primary and secondary sources will be examined.

h.3 Learning Objectives

The student can:

• 1. divise and conduct research of limited scope, including:
     a. identifying relevant literature and select and order them according to a defined principle;
     b. organising and using relatively large amounts of information;
     c. an analysis of a scholarly debate;
     d. placing the research within the context of a scholarly debate.
• 2. write a problem solving essay and give an oral presentation after the format defined in the Themacolleges, including
     a. using a realistic schedule of work;
     b. formulating a research question and subquestions;
     c. formulating a well-argued conclusion;
     d. giving and receiving feedback;
     e. responding to instructions of the lecturer.
• 3. reflect on the primary sources on which the literature is based.
• 4. select and use primary sources for their own research.
• 5. analyse sources, place and interpret them in a historical context.
• 6. participate in class discussions.

The student has:

• 7. knowledge of a specialisation, more specifically of the development of global networks which facilitate an ever growing circulation of people, goods and ideas.
• 8. knowledge and insight in the main concepts, the research methods and techniques of the specialisation, more specifically of the combining of historiographical debates with empirical research of primary sources (required for 10 EC) and the combining of various historiographical traditions through the use of innovative research questions (required for 5 EC).
• 9. knowledge and insight in the main concepts, the research methods and methodology of the historical discipline.
• 10. developed understanding of the main historiographical debates related to the Pacific war.
• 11. gained general knowledge of the Japanese objectives and war-time policies.
• 12. critically examined the national narratives of the war in relation to revolutionary or political movements

Timetable

See Timetable History

Mode of instruction

Seminar

Course Load

5 EC (Cosmopolis):

• Attending lectures and seminars: 28 hours.

• Studying compulsory literature: 64 hours.

• Research: 20 hours.

• Writing essays: 20 hours.

• Class presentations: 8 hours.

10 EC (BA History):

• Attending lectures and seminars: 28 hours.

• Studying compulsory literature: 64 hours.

• Research: 80 hours.

• Writing essays: 100 hours.

• Class presentations: 8 hours

Assessment

5 EC (Cosmopolis)

• Essays
  Measured learning objectives: 1-5, 7-9

• Oral presentation and participation
  Measured learning objectives: 2a-d, 6, 7-12

10EC (BA History)

• Essay (7200 words, including notes and bibliography, based on primary sources)
  Measured learning objectives: 1-5, 7-12

• Assignments
  Measured learning objectives: 1-5, 7-9

• Oral presentation and participation
  Measured learning objectives: 2a-d, 6, 7-12

Weighing

• 5EC (Cosmopolis)
  Essays: 75%
  Oral presentation and participation: 25%

• 10EC (BA History)
  Essay: 40%
  Assignments: 40%
  Oral presentation and participation: 20%

Resit
The final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average. Every course assignment has to be graded sufficient. Essays and presentations can only be retaken in exceptional cases. The deadline for re-examination of the final paper (BA History students) will be published on the website of the Institute for History, see: deadline.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for sharing course documents, posting assignments and forum.

Reading list

Articles and book chapters – to be announced.

Registration

trough uSis.

Contact

Mw. E.P.M. Zwinkels MA

Remarks

This course is compulsory for Cosmopolis students. The remaining positions are open to History students.