Yoshida Doctrine
Encyclopedia
The Yoshida Doctrine, named after Japan
's post-World War II
Prime Minister
Shigeru Yoshida
, involved placing highest national priority on economic development
, while simultaneously keeping a low diplomatic
profile.
Yoshida's aim was to focus all available means on an economic recovery after World War II
while leaving Japan's military defense to the United States
. Repeated attempts by the United States to get Japan to increase its military expenditure
were rejected by Yoshida on the basis of Japan's pacifist postwar constitution, in particular Article 9
under which Japan renounces "war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." Thanks to this policy of focusing on trade and technological advances, Yoshida envisioned a speedy economic recovery through which Japan would be able to once again become a major world power (at which point Japan would be in a position to rearm). His policy was thus not rooted in pacifism
but was in line with the realist
foreign policy that's been a dominating force in Japan's approach to international relations since the Meiji Restoration
. Its traditional goal has been to capitalize on the trends of international politics in order to increase Japanese influence and standing throughout the world.
The Yoshida Doctrine was the basic tenet of Japan's foreign policy throughout the Cold War
.
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...
's post-World War II
Occupied Japan
At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This foreign presence marked the first time in its history that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Shigeru Yoshida
Shigeru Yoshida
, KCVO was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954.-Early life:...
, involved placing highest national priority on economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, while simultaneously keeping a low diplomatic
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
profile.
Yoshida's aim was to focus all available means on an economic recovery after 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...
while leaving Japan's military defense to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Repeated attempts by the United States to get Japan to increase its military expenditure
Defense budget of Japan
Even during the Cold War arms race of the 1980s, the Defense budget was accorded a relatively low priority in Japan. According to Japanese security policy, maintaining a military establishment is only one method—and by no means the best method—to achieve national security...
were rejected by Yoshida on the basis of Japan's pacifist postwar constitution, in particular Article 9
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is a clause in the National Constitution of Japan that prohibits an act of war by the state. The Constitution came into effect on May 3, 1947, immediately following World War II. In its text, the state formally renounces war as a sovereign right and bans...
under which Japan renounces "war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." Thanks to this policy of focusing on trade and technological advances, Yoshida envisioned a speedy economic recovery through which Japan would be able to once again become a major world power (at which point Japan would be in a position to rearm). His policy was thus not rooted in pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
but was in line with the realist
Realism (international relations)
In the study of international relations, Realism or political realism prioritizes national interest and security over ideology, moral concerns and social reconstructions...
foreign policy that's been a dominating force in Japan's approach to international relations since the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. Its traditional goal has been to capitalize on the trends of international politics in order to increase Japanese influence and standing throughout the world.
The Yoshida Doctrine was the basic tenet of Japan's foreign policy throughout 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...
.