ChinaTalk Imperial Japan + Export Controls = Pearl Harbor!?
Jan 9, 2022
In this engaging discussion, Michael Barnhart, a history professor and author, teams up with Tanner Greer, an insightful essayist. They delve into the motivations behind Japan's imperial ambitions and its quest for resource self-sufficiency. The conversation highlights FDR's concerns about Japan's possible invasion of the USSR and the alarming miscalculations that escalated tensions leading to World War II. Insights into the bureaucratic influences and innovative educational methods, like historical simulations, round out this captivating exploration of historical geopolitics.
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Japan's Drive for Self-Sufficiency
- The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) sought self-sufficiency due to Germany's WWI loss.
- They believed economic vulnerability led to defeat, driving their expansionist policies in China.
IJA's Influence on Japanese Policy
- The IJA held significant power in Japan's government, controlling national defense policy.
- Lack of civilian oversight allowed them to pursue their self-sufficiency goals through territorial expansion.
Contrasting US and Japanese Views on Trade
- The US believed free trade promoted peace, contrasting with Japan's autarky.
- They viewed Japan's and Germany's self-sufficiency efforts as anti-democratic and threats to world order.
