The Allure of Empire

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Empires were not agents of progress, contrary to their apologists. During the Progressive Era, many across the Pacific sought empowerment through empires. As the United States and Japan aimed to become global powers, numerous Asians and African Americans turned to Japan to confront entrenched racial inequalities. Japan's appeal extended beyond nonwhite populations; American policymakers viewed it as a "progressive" empire similar to their own, fostering a complex relationship across racial lines, despite competition for influence in Asia and disputes over Japanese immigration to the American West. This work explores how American perceptions of Asians evolved on the imperial stage and influenced US foreign and immigration policies. Research in South Korea and the United States reveals how Americans rationalized Japan's colonial rule in Korea by drawing parallels to US governance in Cuba and the Philippines. Initially, the US did not exclude Japanese immigrants as it had with Chinese and Indian immigrants, but perceptions soured due to Japan's harsh treatment of Koreans and Chinese. Even after the 1924 exclusion of Japanese immigrants, the shared respect for "progressive" empires maintained their inter-imperial relationship until World War II, when both nations redefined their histories to portray each other as adversaries.