IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : History Of China and Japan (1840-1949) - Polical Reforms in Japan

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History Of China and Japan (1840-1949)

Polical Reforms in Japan

Structure

16.0 Objectives
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Charter Oath
16.3 Political Machinery '
16.3.1 Abolition of Han
16.3.2 Local Government
16.4 Popular Rights hnovenhent
16.5 Setting Up of a National Assembly
16.6 Constitution
16.6.1 Emperor
16.6.2 Diet
16.6.3 Executive
16.6.4 Military
16.6.5 Judiciary
16.7 Working of the Constitution
16.8 Let Us Sum Up
16.9. Key Words
16.10 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

16.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this Unit you will be able to :

know about the initial pledge made by the Emperor of Japan to allow political participation by the people,
understand the process by which the Baku-han system was destroyed,
be able to know how a centralised bureaucratic state was established,
know about the peoples' movement, its leadership and demands related to representation in the political process, and the reactions of the government,
know how a constitutional monarchy WAS established, and
get an idea of the constitution and how it was put into operation in the first five years.

16.1 INTRODUCTION

This Unit deals with the political reforms brought about in Japan for the
establishment of a modern nation-state. The period under discussion is mainly from
1868 to 1889 when the constitution was finally promulgated. Japan emerged during
this period as a united nation under a centralized administration. This involved
national integration and the removal of the regional loyalties which had till then
played a major role. The political reforms also aimed to achieve Japan's objective of
being recognized as a modern nation equal to other Western nations by incorporating
various modern political institutions.
The promise made in the Charter Oath issued by the Emperor in April 1868 for the
establishment of deliberative assemblies and decisions being made by public opinion
indicated that public participation in the political process would be allowed. In this
context a popular rights movement demanding the establishment of a National
Assembly arose. These pressures on the Government from the people as well as the
initiatives taken by the Meiji leaders to frame a constitution finally led to the
promulgation of the Meiji constitution in 1889. Thus Japan became the first nation in
Asia to have a written Constitution. The Unit also takes into account the operative