"For good or for evil" : Australia, labour reform and the military occupation of Japan

Christine De Matos

"For good or for evil" : Australia, labour reform and the military occupation of Japan

Christine De Matos

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper

Abstract

![CDATA[In September 1946, the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) Monthly Occupation Intelligence Review published the following: A most significant change in the Japanese way of life came about in the shape of Labour Unions. These Unions are increasing in number, membership and power. Whether they are to be powers for evil or good is yet to be proved, but the possibility of their being selfishly used by unscrupulous Japanese or other foreign nationals is too obvious to require stressing. The above captures the essence of the conflicting relationship between BCOF as a military force with definite strategic interests and its very political role (that is, of ‘democratisation’) in the Allied Occupation of Japan (1945-1952). The occupation was both a civilian and a military operation, and these two aspects were not always reconcilable: this very irreconcilability was most apparent in politically and ideologically volatile areas, such as labour reform, the focus of this paper.]]

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Asia Examined: Proceedings of the15th Biennial Conference of the ASAA, 2004
Publisher	Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) & Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS), The Australian National University
Number of pages	15
ISBN (Print)	0958083711
Publication status	Published - 2004
Event	Asian Studies Association of Australia. Conference - Duration: 1 Jan 2004 → …

Conference

Conference	Asian Studies Association of Australia. Conference
Period	1/01/04 → …

Keywords

labor unions
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
Allied Occupation of Japan
politics
foreign nationals

Cite this

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title = "{"}For good or for evil{"} : Australia, labour reform and the military occupation of Japan",

abstract = "![CDATA[In September 1946, the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) Monthly Occupation Intelligence Review published the following: A most significant change in the Japanese way of life came about in the shape of Labour Unions. These Unions are increasing in number, membership and power. Whether they are to be powers for evil or good is yet to be proved, but the possibility of their being selfishly used by unscrupulous Japanese or other foreign nationals is too obvious to require stressing. The above captures the essence of the conflicting relationship between BCOF as a military force with definite strategic interests and its very political role (that is, of {\textquoteleft}democratisation{\textquoteright}) in the Allied Occupation of Japan (1945-1952). The occupation was both a civilian and a military operation, and these two aspects were not always reconcilable: this very irreconcilability was most apparent in politically and ideologically volatile areas, such as labour reform, the focus of this paper.]]",

keywords = "labor unions, British Commonwealth Occupation Force, Allied Occupation of Japan, politics, foreign nationals",

author = "{De Matos}, Christine",

year = "2004",

language = "English",

isbn = "0958083711",

booktitle = "Asia Examined: Proceedings of the15th Biennial Conference of the ASAA, 2004",

publisher = "Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) & Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS), The Australian National University",

note = "Asian Studies Association of Australia. Conference ; Conference date: 01-01-2004",

}

De Matos, C 2004, "For good or for evil" : Australia, labour reform and the military occupation of Japan. in Asia Examined: Proceedings of the15th Biennial Conference of the ASAA, 2004. Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) & Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS), The Australian National University, Asian Studies Association of Australia. Conference, 1/01/04.

"For good or for evil" : Australia, labour reform and the military occupation of Japan. / De Matos, Christine.
Asia Examined: Proceedings of the15th Biennial Conference of the ASAA, 2004. Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) & Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS), The Australian National University, 2004.

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper

TY - GEN

T1 - "For good or for evil" : Australia, labour reform and the military occupation of Japan

AU - De Matos, Christine

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - ![CDATA[In September 1946, the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) Monthly Occupation Intelligence Review published the following: A most significant change in the Japanese way of life came about in the shape of Labour Unions. These Unions are increasing in number, membership and power. Whether they are to be powers for evil or good is yet to be proved, but the possibility of their being selfishly used by unscrupulous Japanese or other foreign nationals is too obvious to require stressing. The above captures the essence of the conflicting relationship between BCOF as a military force with definite strategic interests and its very political role (that is, of ‘democratisation’) in the Allied Occupation of Japan (1945-1952). The occupation was both a civilian and a military operation, and these two aspects were not always reconcilable: this very irreconcilability was most apparent in politically and ideologically volatile areas, such as labour reform, the focus of this paper.]]

AB - ![CDATA[In September 1946, the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) Monthly Occupation Intelligence Review published the following: A most significant change in the Japanese way of life came about in the shape of Labour Unions. These Unions are increasing in number, membership and power. Whether they are to be powers for evil or good is yet to be proved, but the possibility of their being selfishly used by unscrupulous Japanese or other foreign nationals is too obvious to require stressing. The above captures the essence of the conflicting relationship between BCOF as a military force with definite strategic interests and its very political role (that is, of ‘democratisation’) in the Allied Occupation of Japan (1945-1952). The occupation was both a civilian and a military operation, and these two aspects were not always reconcilable: this very irreconcilability was most apparent in politically and ideologically volatile areas, such as labour reform, the focus of this paper.]]

KW - labor unions

KW - British Commonwealth Occupation Force

KW - Allied Occupation of Japan

KW - politics

KW - foreign nationals

UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/36329

M3 - Conference Paper

SN - 0958083711

BT - Asia Examined: Proceedings of the15th Biennial Conference of the ASAA, 2004

PB - Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) & Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS), The Australian National University

T2 - Asian Studies Association of Australia. Conference

Y2 - 1 January 2004

ER -

"For good or for evil" : Australia, labour reform and the military occupation of Japan

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Conference

Keywords

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