Russia and Japan, 1890-1917 : a study of conflicting imperial designs, 2018

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Zag

Identifier: b7835595

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate History program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

From the Collection:

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations Publishing website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2018

Creator

Zagury, Daniel (1990- ) (Author, Person)
Pearson, Thomas S. (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 89 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction [excerpt]

The following thesis is written to explain how conflicting strategic visions of empire and imperial design of Russia and Japan from 1890 to 1917 resulted in a political climate that greatly contributed to subsequent armed conflicts. The research explores the legacies of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War and the role they had in a geopolitical competition between Russia and Japan. Additional themes central to this thesis include the gradual process of undermining Korea's sovereignty and the acquisition of Manchuria. Korea and Manchuria represented the geographic sources of contention between Russia and Japan, as well as a frontier and territory vital to the economic and military strategy of both countries. This study concludes before the start of the Russian Revolution in order to maintain the focus on the conflicting imperial strategies of Russia and Japan.

The themes that serve to elucidate, substantiate and advance the thesis include modernity, ideology, geopolitics and nationalism. Russia and Japan comprise the main focus, while Manchuria and Korea are given specific attention as they relate to the conflicting aims of Japan and Russia. Finally, the thesis analyzes some of the key figures involved in influencing and informing the final decisions of the emperors and tsars, and discusses the unitended consequences that Western imperial powers had, not necessarily in creating these problems on their own, but in contributing to the growing conflict between Russia and Japan. This thesis also attempts to provide a brief but comprehensive and integrated narrative of the events and institutions essential from 1890 until 1917 that contributed to Russian-Japanese conflicts of ideology, empire and war.

Russian-Japanese bilateral relations are the focus of this narrative. This is not to implicitly or deliberately minimize the role of China, but to emphasize the dynamic and fundamental role that Russo-Japanse relations had in generating the conditions for future wars in Asia after 1917.... Conflicting visions of empire provide the fundamental premise for this thesis....

Partial Contents

Introduction -- 1. Visions of empire : the origins of geopolitical conflict between Japan and Russia -- 2. First Sino-Japanese War : the emergence and onset of armed conflict, geopolitical competition and clash of visions -- 3. The Russo-Japanese War : a collision in imperial design between Japanese and Russian strategic aims -- 4. Continuity of strategic aims : a period of déetente and of change in Russia, Japan, Korea and China -- 5. Conclusion -- Bibliography.