“The US occupation (1945–1952) had a positive impact on Japanese politics and society.” Discuss.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that the US occupation had a positive impact on Japanese politics and society. Impacts discussed may extend beyond the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the questions. Candidates may offer equal coverage of political and social impact, or they may prioritize their discussion of one of them. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the successful democratization of Japan by widening the suffrage, changing the status of the Emperor, and establishing civil liberties such as freedom of speech. Social policies such as education policies and labour laws may also be discussed. Other relevant impacts may be addressed, for example the curtailing of certain democratic freedoms under the reverse course, brought on by the onset of the Cold War. In addition, candidates may discuss the attendant consequences of the occupation, namely prostitution and economic liberalization. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

A relatively popular question. Candidates were required to offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that the US occupation had a positive impact on Japanese politics and society. Responses were generally of a high standard and contained a range of relevant and in-depth knowledge of the US Occupation. However, there were numerous candidates who wrote large sections on economic factors without linking them directly to the question. It was also rather concerning to see in some responses numerous comments suggesting that Japan had been 'backward' until the US occupation. Candidates studying this unit should be aware that Japan had developed into a modern industrial nation well before the Second World War.