War and State Terrorism: The United States, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific in the Long Twentieth Century

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Mark Selden, Alvin Y. So
Rowman & Littlefield, 2004 - History - 293 pages
If the past hundred years will be remembered as a century of war, Asia is surely central to that story. Tracing the course of conflicts throughout the region, this groundbreaking volume is the first to explore systematically the nexus of war and state terrorism. Challenging states' definitions of terrorism, which routinely exclude their own behavior, the book focuses especially on the nature of Japanese and American wars and crimes of war. The authors also assess significant acts of terror instigated by other Asian nations including China, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Offering a rare comparative perspective, the authors consider how state terror leads to massive civilian casualties, crimes of war, and crimes against humanity. In counterbalance, they discuss anti-war and anti-nuclear movements and international efforts to protect human rights, and the interwoven issues of responsibility, impunity, and memory. Interdisciplinary and deeply informed by global perspectives, this volume will resonate with readers searching for a deeper understanding of an epoch that has been dominated by war and terror.
 

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Contents

Introduction War and State Terrorism
1
The United States and Japan in TwentiethCentury Asian Wars
19
State Terror versus Humanitarian Law
41
American Airpower and Nuclear Strategy in Northeast Asia since 1945
63
When Gods and Buddhas Go to War
91
Japanese Racism War and the POW Experience
119
The Waters Covered the Earth Chinas WarInduced Natural Disasters Diana Lary
143
Drugs and Oil The Deep Politics of US Asian Wars
171
War Genocide and Resistance in East Timor 197599 Comparative Reflections on Cambodia
199
Resisting State Terror The AntiVietnam War Movement
235
Resisting Nuclear Terror Japanese and American Antinuclear Movements since 1945
251
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