JAPN-2131: Japanese Nationalism

Course Description: This course explores the various forms of nationalism in modern Japan (political and economic, but especially cultural, aesthetic and ethnic) and how they have co-existed with and contested imperialism, militarism and even democracy. It emphasizes nationalism as a cultural theory of identity that has political and moral implications. Building on a theoretical understanding of nationalism as a modern phenomenon, it looks beyond high politics to a range of cultural, literary and intellectual texts for evidence of how national identity has been articulated in Japan and what its political significance may be. In the past, readings have focused on anthropological theories of the origins of the Japanese people, Marxist nationalism in postwar Japan, and contemporary “nationalisms” that range from economic to educational expressions. Every effort will be made to read works by Japanese writings and especially recently published material. The course and all readings are in English. Prerequisite: None.