岩倉使節団と対外観 ―明治六年政変と関連してー

Abstract

One of the major events in political history of Meiji government, “Meiji 6th year political Coup” (Conquer‐Korea theory political coup) has two divided theories of ‘priority on internal governing’ theory and ‘power struggle’ theory. But none of them contains an analysis on The Iwakura Mission in their point of view. It is understandable for ‘Power struggle’ theory but even ‘priority on internal governing’ theory just mentions the argument of internal governing group as ‘it was from the experience of touring western countries’. This study aims to analyze the logical structure of ‘priority on internal governing’ theory during the political coup. In other words, this study will analyze it at the point of why the ‘priority on internal governing’ theory had to be claimed, different from ‘power struggle’ theory through their international view. The conclusion is that the ‘priority on internal governing’ theory, proclaimed by Ookubo and Iwakura during the political coup, claimed not only individual civilization‐open‐policy or modernization policy but also an ideological expression including methods for creating a modernized country. ‘Priority on internal governing’ theory was claimed as a logical conclusion based on power political international view, which had been shaped by touring western countries.