Assignment Instructions
Write a paper of approximately 500 words that answers the following questions:
- What effects did WWII have on Japan’s military in the modern world?
- How have these rules (and Japan’s constitution) restricted its military and affected the development of its economy and economic policies?
- Compare your personal understanding of your own country’s military purpose to Japan’s self-defense-only shooting policy. How would this make you feel if your country’s military had this type of restriction? How would it affect your government’s military and economic policies?
Sample Answer
WWII and Japan’s Role in Modern War
Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers from August 1945 to April 1952. The first Supreme Commander was General MacArthur. The defeat in the WWII led to Japan losing all the terrain it had acquired after 1894.According to Levy (2015), the remnants of the Japan’s war machine were demolished and there were war crime trials. This led to execution of hundreds of Japan’s military officers while over 500 military officers committing suicide. It is forbidden for Japan to lead war or conserve an army.
In 1947, there was a new constitution that governed Japan. The emperor who was the leader of the country lost military and political power. MacArthur in a bid to decentralize power dissolved the zaibatsu and other big companies. The U.S. allowed Japan to export products to the US and still protect its domestic market. This led to creation of cartels and non-market driven aspects in the economy of Japan. It also facilitated the development of uneven trade association with America. The economy that is export driven that was developed by the U.S. enabled Japan to benefit from low tariffs in the global market, low oil prices, and acquire cheap raw materials that is necessary for industrial expansion.
The Japan self-defense-only shooting policy is enshrined in the constitution that was written by legal scholars from America and adopted by Japan in 1947. The policy states that the country should aspire to a global peace that is based on order and justice(Przystup, 2015). The Japanese are supposed to always relinquish war as their autonomous right of the country and no event should they apply force in settling disputes. Therefore, Japan had no right to maintain any type of military such as sea, land, and air forces. Nonetheless, the self-defense-only shooting policy can only be effective in case Japan is threatened and not any of its allies.
The U.S. maintains a strong military that defends the country at all times. It also protects the land, air, and sea boundaries and prevents its incursion by the enemies. They have all rights to help an allied country when on problems. Further, they can participate in any mission activity that is aimed at restoring peace in any war prone country.
There is no bad thing than living in a country that has military restrictions like Japan. They are not able to make autonomous decision on global matters that would otherwise make their contribution worthwhile.Also, they cannot be able to partake in a military conquest that may favor their economic growth. A country like Japan is not able to acquire powerful military machines that can be able to abolish targets like aircraft carriers and long range missiles from a distance(Tsurumi, 2015).
In conclusion, the study has analyzed on the WWII and Japan’s role in modern war. Japan is a country that out of the constitution it adapted from the U.S. has been restricted from having a military. The paper has examined the self-defense-only shooting policy and its effectiveness in securing the country. However, there is no sufficient reason of a country to be restricted from defending itself or helping its allies when it’s invaded by enemies.
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