For IB History HL Paper 3 Asia and Oceania. Notes looking at the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Taisho Democracy in Japan. Done by a student who scored 7 in History HL with a 7 in all components. These are also great for your personal research on this topic.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Taisho Democracy
Taisho Democracy: 1912-1926 if taken to correspond to years of Emperor Taisho.
Strength – reflects Taisho influence and success at implementing its policies e.g. democracy, modernization of
culture as well as Japan’s power in general.
Weakness – reflects fault within Taisho government which prevents it from implementing its policies successfully.
Strength and weakness in many cases depends on perspective: what liberal-minded politicians and urban dwellers
might see as a strength, ultra-traditional nationalists and militarists might see as a weakness.
Taisho Leadership
Emperor Organ Theory – Emperor as organ of state rather than sacred and holy, so the head of state is
constitutional monarchy.
- W: From the perspective of militarists this was a sign of weakness of the democracy as well as a
disregard for Japanese traditions and hence to be removed.
- S: However from the perspective of liberal-minded politicians, this was a great step towards
functional democracy and hence a strength.
W: “government by assassination” e.g. PM Hara Takashi assassinated in 1921 which lead to the end of first
fully party Cabinet; other e.g. attempted anarchist assassination of Hirohito
S: PM Yamamoto provides effective leadership after the Kanto plain earthquake (aka Kobe earthquake
1923) with a plan for restoration swiftly implemented
Political Opposition
W: Rise of mass movements advocating political change
Labour unions – large-scale mass strikes (108 strikes in 1914, 417 strokes in 1918)
S: Leftists dealt with in the aftermath of Kanto Plain earthquake (1923) (106K killed, 502K injured): leftists,
including Osuji Sakae (leading anarchist) rounded up(+some murdered) by police as they were blamed for
arsons
S: Peace Preservation Law 1925 – directed against emerging threat of communism, provided powers to
‘Thought Police’ to investigate + suppress enemies of government. Limited public right to engage in free
and open political discourse. Over 70K arrested under the Peace Preservation Law.
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