The 6th Tokyo Global Dialogue Session 2: Lessons from the History of the Twentieth Century: The Era of the Two World Wars and the Cold War
Session 2: Lessons from the History of the Twentieth Century: The Era of the Two World Wars and the Cold War
This session traced the history of the 20th century, which experienced two world wars and the Cold War, and examined the challenges facing Japan and the international community today.
First, the international order in East Asia in the 20th century was discussed from three perspectives: “Japan's defeat in the war,” “post-war justice,” and “the legacy of war.” Interpretations of the past are constantly changing, and history is sometimes used for political purposes in East Asia. Therefore, it is difficult to settle issues surrounding history, but it was pointed out that there is a possibility of reconciliation through the accumulation of current and future efforts.
Next, the changes in the international structure during the “long 20th century” from the 1890s to around 2008 were reviewed, and the lessons for Japan were examined. The rise of countries such as Japan, the United States, India and China was brought about by the progress of industrialization at the end of the 19th century, but the globalization of finance and currency from the middle of the 20th century brought this era to an end, and 2008 was a major turning point. We are now witnessing the “end of the end of the 20th century,” and Japan has been called upon to reconsider its national strategy.
Finally, the discussion turned to how we can understand the challenges facing Japan today from the perspective of global history. Citing the case of the Racial Equality Proposal presented by Japan at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, discussants pointed out the potential global impact of Japan’s actions and that we need for self-awareness in that regard.
From the floor, it was also suggested that the reconstruction of a stable international order requires the inclusion of developing countries, and that Japan could play a role in this respect. Issues were also raised regarding historical analogies, e.g., whether a long-term historical perspective of modern times reveals any signs that conflicts comparable to past wars will occur in the near future.