Economic nationalism in Japan

Japanese Economic Nationalism

Economic nationalism refers to the use of policies that are guided by the idea of protecting domestic consumption , labor , and capital formation , even when these policies require the imposition of tariffs in addition to other restrictions on the movement of labor , goods , and capital . In many cases , economic nationalism is opposed to globalization or unrestricted free trade . Economic nationalism could include doctrines such as protectionism and import substitution (Economic Nationalism , 2007 . What is more , Japan is a master in the use of policies that define economic nationalism (Hall p

To other nations around the world , Japanese economic nationalism appears as self-seeking behavior . Besides , this self-serving attitude of Japan can drive other nations also to feel particularly touchy about their own national interests with respect to Japan . Thus , Patrick J Buchanan (1995 ) speaks for the American people

With the collapse of U .S .- Japan trade talks , the hour of the economic nationalist may be at

hand

In British Columbia , U .S . demands that Japan open her markets to more American autos

and parts were rudely rebuffed . Japan 's top negotiator virtually dared us to impose sanctions

We will haul you up before the World Trade Organization . Tokyo warns and there we will

have you branded a violator of the free trade principles you so noisily preach - before an

international tribunal you yourselves set up

Angry Clintonites intend to impose 100 percent tariffs on 6 billion of Japan 's exports . This

JAPANESE ECONOMIC NATIONALISM

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doesn 't even qualify as a spanking . Americans are in a mood for action and the GOP should

demand more serious sanctions . Enough is enough

In 1953 , we had 60 percent of Japan 's auto market by 1960 , our share had been slashed to

1 percent . That is all we have now . Since 1970 , Japan has purchased 400 ,000 U .S . cars , while

selling us 40 million

Nationalism is emotion arousing . And , Luke S . Roberts (1998 ) seems to know about the subconscious roots of economic nationalism in the Japanese mind . According to the author , these roots lie in an eighteenth century concept of political economy referred to as kokueki ' or national prosperity ' The concept of kokueki was articulated in Tosa , which was one of more than 230 Japanese domains that made up Japan during the Tokugawa period . The domains were autonomous with regards to internal administration . Nevertheless , they were often expected to sacrifice their own economic interests to meet obligations and services required by the shogun and his government

During a period of economic crises in the first half of the eighteenth century , Tosa was compelled to adopt mercantilist policies in to protect its own wellbeing . The concept of kokueki was at the heart of these policies . In this way , Tosa looked upon itself as a nation instead of holding itself responsible for the economic wellbeing for all Japanese domains under the shogun (Roberts

By pursuing the interests of the domain instead of those of the entire government and the shogun , Tosa...