America and the Japanese Miracle

In this book Aaron Forsberg presents an arresting account of Japan’s postwar economic resurgence in a world polarized by the Cold War. His fresh interpretation highlights the many connections between Japan’s economic revival and changes that occurred in the wider world during the 1950s.<br/><br/>Drawing on a wealth of recently released American British and Japanese archival records Forsberg demonstrates that American Cold War strategy and the U.S. commitment to liberal trade played a central role in promoting Japanese economic welfare and in forging the economic relationship between Japan and the United States. The price of economic opportunity and interdependence however was a strong undercurrent of mutual frustration as patterns of conflict and compromise over trade investment and relations with China continued to characterize the postwar U.S.-Japanese relationship.<br/><br/>Forsberg’s emphasis on the dynamic interaction of Cold War strategy the business environment and Japanese development challenges “revisionist” interpretations of Japan’s success. In exploring the complex origins of the U.S.-led international economy that has outlasted the Cold War Forsberg refutes the claim that the U.S. government sacrificed American commercial interests in favor of its military partnership with Japan.