School of Historical and Philosophical Studies - Theses
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ItemThe motivations behind the decision by the Okinawa Teachers' Association to terminate its pro-Japanese national flag during the period of American administration from 1952 to 1972( [2007])This thesis argues that the decision by the Okinawa Teachers' Association (OTA) to terminate its pro-Japanese national flag campaign during the period of American administration from 1952 to 1972 was consistent with an approach to propaganda activity that was driven by opportunism and directed by self-interest. This finding, therefore, rejects the contemporaneous assertions of the OTA that it was nationalism (or, later, its negative mirror image, 'reactionary nationalism') which motivated the OTA to first raise the flag and then, albeit slowly, allow the flag to lower itself. This study argues that the OTA's flag policy behaviour appeared intuitively consistent with 'components of propaganda' such as its changing organisational goals, and adjustments in world and regional politics, the reactions of target audiences and other pragmatic concerns. Between 1952 and 1961 the OTA vigorously promoted the flag to establish sentiment for reunification with Japan among the people of Okinawa. Behind the OTA's interest in reunification was its conviction that Okinawa's legal re-entry into the Japanese polity would obligate the Japanese Government to provide the education sector with much better salaries and working conditions. During this period the flag was an uncontroversial national symbol in Japan which was in favour with both anti-American leftists and traditional rightist individuals and political groups. In 1961, despite almost ten years of fervently promoting the national flag, the OTA realised that this campaign had secured it extensive popularity but few, tangible benefits for its fee-paying membership. To preserve the politically valuable goodwill generated by the flag campaign, the OTA softly withdrew its support. In 1965 the OTA managed to secure from the conservative Japanese Government substantial improvements in salaries for its teacher members. In 1969 the OTA skilfully pressured the same conservative government to begin negotiations with America for Okinawa's return to the national polity. Ironically, with each of these substantive moves closer to Japan the OTA displayed somewhat less interest in Japan's national flag. Mindful of their role as teachers of young children and their long tradition of educators teaching flag worship, the OTA membership resisted openly rejecting the flag. The result was to greatly moderate its pro-flag campaign until 1971 when the OTA did openly reject the flag just as Okinawa's reunification with Japan approached and flag raising at schools became a legal obligation on Okinawa's 'new' Japanese teachers.
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ItemLarrikinism: an interpretation( [1950])This is a study of the social causes of larrikinism. No attempt has been made to provide an eloquent or detailed inventory of larrikin habits and dress for the satisfaction of the antiquary.