Reverse course
Encyclopedia
Reverse Course was a change in U.S.
policy toward Japan
during the post-World War II
reconstruction.
It is linked to the escalation of the Cold War
, the "loss" of China and the Korean War
. Whereas the occupation had been begun and the pacifist Constitution written by Rooseveltian New-Dealers, it was taken over by McCarthy-era conservatives. Japan appeared weak—inflation, poverty, and leftist parties were growing—and ripe for communism. This shift fit into the containment policy of the US and was similar to Europe’s Marshall Plan
. According to George F. Kennan
's policies, Japan would serve as an industrial engine of East Asia. A strong Japanese economy would prevent Communism from spreading in Asia. Public sector workers lost right to strike, blow to ideological freedom (1950 Red Purge), halt to Zaibatsu busting process, and loosening to anti-monopoly laws.
Significance for Japanese Foreign Policy: This ‘reverse course’ strengthened right-wing elements within Japanese society—including the yakuza
and many politicians who had orchestrated World War II—and made Japan the cornerstone of US policy in Asia. Further it forced Japan’s foreign policy to be based around its relationship with the US. As the US Dept. of State official history puts it "In this "Reverse Course," Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur, focused on strengthening, not punishing, what would become a key cold war ally",
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
policy toward Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
during the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
reconstruction.
It is linked to the escalation of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the "loss" of China and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Whereas the occupation had been begun and the pacifist Constitution written by Rooseveltian New-Dealers, it was taken over by McCarthy-era conservatives. Japan appeared weak—inflation, poverty, and leftist parties were growing—and ripe for communism. This shift fit into the containment policy of the US and was similar to Europe’s Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the large-scale American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to combat the spread of Soviet communism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948...
. According to George F. Kennan
George F. Kennan
George Frost Kennan was an American adviser, diplomat, political scientist and historian, best known as "the father of containment" and as a key figure in the emergence of the Cold War...
's policies, Japan would serve as an industrial engine of East Asia. A strong Japanese economy would prevent Communism from spreading in Asia. Public sector workers lost right to strike, blow to ideological freedom (1950 Red Purge), halt to Zaibatsu busting process, and loosening to anti-monopoly laws.
Significance for Japanese Foreign Policy: This ‘reverse course’ strengthened right-wing elements within Japanese society—including the yakuza
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
and many politicians who had orchestrated World War II—and made Japan the cornerstone of US policy in Asia. Further it forced Japan’s foreign policy to be based around its relationship with the US. As the US Dept. of State official history puts it "In this "Reverse Course," Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur, focused on strengthening, not punishing, what would become a key cold war ally",