A Study Of The Public Opinion On Japan's Invasion In The 1930s

The thesis sets out to give a full-scale analysis of how the Japanese government guided people to form the public opinion on Japan's invasion of China,the manifestations of the public opinions in different times and how to control the mass media and the producers,the intellectuals from the perspectives of historiography, journalism and sociology.While trying to present Japanese public opinion during the war, the thesis also gives some inspiration and reference to today's public opinion.There are five chapters:the first chapter introduces the agitation of the public opinion of Japan's invasion of China(around Sep.18,1931).It's mainly about the inducement of the public opinion before the September 18th Incident.The Japanese government had begun to create a series of public opinions which are advantageous for them before they were planning for the war.This is what is called "the public opinion antecedent of the war".The public opinion on Japan's invasion of China laid the foundation for the war.The second chapter develops around Japanese advocacy of the invasion.After the September 18th Incident,Japan began to look for pretences besides continuing preaching the public opinion.The public opinions which are for defending invasion are actually the ones on invasion.The third chapter mainly analyses the public opinion on the invasion after the July 7 Incident of 1937.As the growing of the war,the content of the public opinion also varies.At this time,the Japanese government on one hand was preaching that the captured land was harmonious and the people welcomed them;on the other hand,they also encouraged Japanese soldiers and people to continue invading China.The fourth chapter is about the Japanese mass media under the rigid control during the invasion.The Japanese media,which was controlled by fascist,lost its freedom and tried to survive among all the powers.Most media was completely controlled by the Japanese government.They spoke for the government and totally lost their democracy.The last chapter is about the government's control on the intellectuals. The intellectuals are always the producers and guides of public opinion.They can greatly influence and guide the public opinion.The Japanese government pressed them and made them the speakers of the militarism,thus the government can advantageously carry on their public opinion on the invasion.The real function of the public opinion should be providing monitor on the politics and economy in society,making the society developing smoothly.However,during the invasion,Japanese public opinion became the accessory of the invaders and the Japanese society stepped into the dark period.