John Ferejohn
Autor(a) de Forged Through Fire: War, Peace, and the Democratic Bargain
About the Author
Obras por John Ferejohn
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Conhecimento Comum
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Estatísticas
- Obras
- 7
- Membros
- 73
- Popularidade
- #240,526
- Avaliação
- 4.2
- Críticas
- 1
- ISBN
- 13
- Línguas
- 1
Karl Friday argues the validity of periodization on the basis of transition from centripetal to centrifugal distribution of power, based on the incremental evolution of samurai power. By rejecting traditional analogies with European feudalism, Friday minimalizes the importance of military privatization as the basis of governmental transition, arguing instead that samurai identified more with court officials of similar rank than with superior or inferior members of the warrior class, thus significantly delaying the transition to a militarist dominated state. Susumu Ike’s argument that the peasant’s call for peace provided a fundamental influence for the consolidation and centralization of power fits with and confirms well the arguments made in the initial article of the book as does Pierre Souyri’s discussion of small mountain communities. Tsuguharu Inaba continues this argument for the relevance and power of elements outside of the state by claiming a “revisionist” view that towns and communities retained significant autonomy well into the Tokugawa era, and that this autonomy provided the basis for a “robust modern society capable of democratic self-governance” (71). Inaba argues it was not until the 1930s rise of imperial fascism that villages identified themselves as part of a larger community that was Japan. Carol Richmond Tsang’s article is primarily a narrative of the annihilation of the last vestiges of autonomous control outside of the Nobunaga dominated center. Tsang argues through this example that there were multiple motivations outside of economic security that were effective at creating hegemony and allegiance. The final article by Thomas Conlan challenges traditional ways of interpreting the effectiveness of new technologies. I found Conlan’s argument particularly compelling, rather than interpreting the introduction of the gun as providing the key to Nobunaga’s success he reveals it was innovations in organization, economic domination, and logistical prowess that gave him the upper hand when confronting groups like the priests of Negoroji who possessed superior firearms and skill but lacked the support and mobilization necessary for resisting the crushing weight of Nobunaga’s armies.
Collectively these essays and article provide greater nuance to Japan’s medieval period, challenging assumptions of commonality and the significance of the state they argue for the agency and importance of the masses. They thus represent a transition from institutional history to a greater focus on society and culture. The work also represents a current trend in history to build bridges to social theory and creating predictive theory. The authors are further united in their desire to challenge the “Asia Mentality” which overly emphasizes the uniqueness of Japan. Kierstead’s article in particular challenges historians to examine Japanese historiography as history. While not necessarily path breaking in their conclusions, each represents a call to careful analysis of traditional assumptions.… (mais)