“The increasing influence of the army in the 1920s and 1930s undermined democracy in Japan.” Discuss.

Candidates are required to offer a considered and balanced review of how the increasing influence of the army undermined democracy in Japan. In support of the argument candidates may discuss the increasing nationalist nature of the army. The assassinations of politicians throughout the 1920s and 1930s may be discussed as well as the February 26 Incident, when a group of army officers led a violent coup against the government. Candidates may also discuss events in Manchuria as an example of the army acting without the authority of the government, but the response should be focused on events mainly within Japan. Candidates may argue that other factors had a greater or equal influence on undermining democracy. These could include social and economic problems, the Great Depression and the wider international context. Candidates may argue that democracy in Japan was never likely to succeed and that the military was held in higher regard than politicians by many Japanese.