ABSTRACT

First published in 1993.This book examines the relationships between the economic, political and strategic expansion of a country, and its tendency towards conflict and war. The authors use the example of Japan to demonstrate that it is uneven economic development and the search for basic resources and markets that often set the stage for war and international conflict. Thus the pursuit of legitimate national goals - for example the expansion of a nation's industrial base - may put it into competitive, poten­tially conflicting relationships with countries with similar objectives. The names of the authors will attract all International Relations scholars who will know Choucri and North's Nations in Conflict and will have been awaiting the outcome of their fifteen years of research on Japan. The book is also invaluable reading for advanced undergraduate and postgrad­uate students of Japan and other Asian area studies, political economy and political science.

part 1|50 pages

Lateral pressure and Japan

chapter 1|21 pages

Conflict and contention

A theory of lateral pressure

chapter 2|27 pages

The profile and capabilities of Japan

A critical century

part 2|62 pages

Emergence of Japan

chapter 3|17 pages

Growth, development, and early expansion

chapter 4|14 pages

Intersections with major powers

chapter 5|12 pages

Comparisons of profiles

Japan and the major powers

chapter 6|17 pages

A model of lateral pressure

From the Meiji Restoration to World War I

part 3|107 pages

Expansion, competition, conflict

chapter 7|17 pages

Gains from World War I

Japan as an emerging power

chapter 9|24 pages

Toward the Pearl Harbor decision

chapter 11|12 pages

Comparing lateral pressure processes

World War I and World War II

chapter 12|19 pages

Simulating growth and expansion

Paths to war

part 4|59 pages

Postwar Japan

chapter 13|15 pages

Lateral pressure after World War II

chapter 14|15 pages

Economic growth and vulnerability

part 5|39 pages

Conclusion

chapter 18|18 pages

Retrospection and thoughts for the future

chapter 19|10 pages

Epilogue

A critical assessment