Discuss the impact of the growth of liberal values and the two-party system during the Taisho democracy.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the impact of the growth of liberal values and the two-party system during the Taisho democracy. Candidates may offer equal coverage of the growth of liberal values and the two-party system, or they prioritize their discussion of one of them. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. They may discuss the halting emergence of the two-party system as a result of the vagueness of the Meiji Constitution and the continued power and/or influence of the emperor, the military, the oligarchs and the privy council. During 1924–1932 the two-party system was at its height, when universal male suffrage was established, and there was limited progress for the rights of women and labour. Liberal values could not withstand the economic and military challenges of the early 1930s. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the impact of the growth of liberal values and the two-party system during the Taisho democracy. A relatively popular question. Responses varied greatly in quality. Most candidates could discuss the impact of the growth of liberal values and give valid examples as supporting evidence. Many candidates struggled to demonstrate knowledge of the two-party system and so this part of the question was not always addressed. It seemed many candidates were not clear of the dates of the Taisho democracy (1912-1926). Very few candidates discussed anything pre-1919 and many candidates went into lengthy and irrelevant discussions about militarism in the 1930s. Wider coverage of the relevant time frame would have strengthened responses.