G Allen - Böcker

Written after the outbreak of war between Japan and China but putting aside British sentiments of suspicion, dislike and a sense of competition, G C Allen bases his observations of Japanese social, political and economic life on his first-hand experience of living and working in the country for a number of years. He argues that the economic expansion of Japan was regarded as a greater threat to Britain because of Japan’s political aims and aggressive territorial expansion, but he is at pains to explain the Japanese domestic circumstances which gave rise to this situation. He also argues that the expansion of the British Empire has some parallels with Japanese expansion, without condoning Japanese methods. Overall the author emphasizes the extent to which judgments about the qualities of the Japanese people have been influenced by the political views of writers in Western countries.

The author, who was for several years a lecturer in a Japanese Government College, has tried to interpret the civilization and national character of Japan in the light of his experience and of his studies in that country. He describes the novel problems and phenomena which have been created by the attempt of the Japanese to graft the political, economic and educational institutions of the West on to their Oriental social organization. He deals with the influence of the West on the different phases of the national life, and with the attitude of the Japanese to Europe and America. Particular attention is given to industrial and financial development and to contemporary economic problems. There are chapters on the political system, on the social organization, and on the educational system; and there is a special study of the population problem.

The author, who was for several years a lecturer in a Japanese Government College, has tried to interpret the civilization and national character of Japan in the light of his experience and of his studies in that country. He describes the novel problems and phenomena which have been created by the attempt of the Japanese to graft the political, economic and educational institutions of the West on to their Oriental social organization. He deals with the influence of the West on the different phases of the national life, and with the attitude of the Japanese to Europe and America. Particular attention is given to industrial and financial development and to contemporary economic problems. There are chapters on the political system, on the social organization, and on the educational system; and there is a special study of the population problem.

Written after the outbreak of war between Japan and China but putting aside British sentiments of suspicion, dislike and a sense of competition, G C Allen bases his observations of Japanese social, political and economic life on his first-hand experience of living and working in the country for a number of years. He argues that the economic expansion of Japan was regarded as a greater threat to Britain because of Japan’s political aims and aggressive territorial expansion, but he is at pains to explain the Japanese domestic circumstances which gave rise to this situation. He also argues that the expansion of the British Empire has some parallels with Japanese expansion, without condoning Japanese methods. Overall the author emphasizes the extent to which judgments about the qualities of the Japanese people have been influenced by the political views of writers in Western countries.