Send message to Author

Paper short abstract:

Since the late-19th century in the Empire of Japan, as industrialization had developed, social problems have become recognized. While the Social Democratic Party was established, the socialist movement could not progress. To investigate this theme, I note that socialists were mostly intellectuals.

Paper long abstract:

After the Sino-Japanese War in 1894-95, the Empire of Japan began a period of industrialization to catch up to the Great Powers. However, due to this rapid progress, social problems like poor working conditions and economic disparity became evident in a short period. The Meiji Government recognized these problems, but gave priority to economic development. Then some intellectuals, especially those who had studied abroad, established the Social Democratic Party in 1901. The founding members were mostly Christian and were a part of an intellectual profession. They tried to advance socialism and expand their influence on society, learning from the SPD. However, they couldn't achieve their goal.

Stagnation of the socialist movement had various causes. First of all, the Meiji Government oppressed socialists without mercy and executed Shusui Kotoku（幸徳秋水）and others in 1911. In 1925 the Meiji Government passed the Peace Preservation Law, which completely suppressed socialism and the socialist movement. For example, Kyuichi Tokuda（徳田球一）was imprisoned from 1928 to 1945.

On the other hand, early socialists themselves had fundamental qualities that sometimes prevented the socialist movement from becoming a mass movement. One of the most important features which I focus on is that they were mostly intellectuals. In fact, intellectuals fulfilled central roles within the SPD and other socialist movements, and they might often experience and understand poverty. Nonetheless, differences between intellectuals and working people could be fatal. Even though socialistic thinkers sympathized with poor people and sincerely tried to improve their cruel environment, their policies were often refused not only by capitalists, but also by none other than the proletariat. In a sense, rather the Meiji Government took acount of socialism.

To investigate this problem, I will explore the world view of socialistic intellectuals, especially the relationship between western ideals and East Asian and Japanese traditional ideals. In the history of ideals in Japan, the concept of "public and private" had been formed by Confucianism, Buddhism, and others. Therefore, after the Meiji restoration and westernization, the influence of ideals since the Edo Era was not small.