In reading Shakespeare's Hamlet, our English class has used a number of critical lenses through which the book can be read. One of them is a Marxist lens. Therefore, today we will look at Marxism and Japan, in timeline format since the end of WWII. See here for more detail.:
Pre-WWII- Japan rapidly develops and passes through the main stages of industrialization
1955-1973- Japan experiences an economic miracle, seeming to indicate capitalism might be the better choice
1973- Japan's Marxist party has significant power in the Diet- it's able to frustrate the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, hold a significant share of seats, and prevent the LDP from rolling through legislation that could've kept the LDP in power indefinitely.
1970s-1980s- Japan shifts to robotics and other high tech industries to avoid trade friction, leaving capital accumulated among the upper classes, translating into starkly little welfare services for Japan's poor
1980s-present- Japan continues to "lose" decades, throwing into question more it's relationship with the US than it's fundamental economics
A marxist reading of Japan would argue that its rapid development probably means it has been ready for a socialist revolution for some time, even as capitalist forces maintain power. It seems as if a capitalist reading would be much more informative, as Japan has been so committed to that system, understanding shortcomings in terms of how they can be fixed instead of why they're inevitable is probably more valuable.
Interesting coverage on the history of Japan through a Marxist socioeconomic lens-- what do you think Japan should do to correct its economic and stratification shortcomings? Do you see a middle path between socialism and capitalism, as seen in many European countries, as a viable option?-- Kate H
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