고토쿠 슈스이(幸德秋水)의 제국주의 비판과 일본 아나키즘의 수용과정

Abstract

This study focuses on examining the meaning of the criticism on imperialism of Kotoku Shusui(1871-1911), in the process of anarchism in Japan through his books and activities. At that time, Kotoku Shusui who developed critical arguments against competition between Japan and Western Powers exercised a great influence not only on the history of anarchism in East Asia but on the early socialism. Kotoku accepted socialism starting from the thoughts of Liberty and Rights from around 1900 and criticised imperialism in earnest. His writing, "Imperialism, the Monster of the 20th Century" and antiwar thought after the Russo-Japanese War are the core activities in criticising imperialism. He considered the essence of imperialism as patriotism and militarism and criticised them. Seemingly it was criticism on militaristic policy of clique government and a few privileged capitalists but internally he leaned toward the skepticism on the emperor system, the essence in a system of Japan's modern nation through criticism on gradually distorted nationalism. After going to America in 1905, he gradually leaned toward anarchism. With doubts about parliamentarianism, he accepted anarchism through experience in American labor movements, contact and communications with foreign thinkers during his stay in America. Returning to Japan, he was executed for involving in the attempted assassination on the emperor called the Trial of High Treason, which symbolically indicates that Japan's nationalism by the emperor system which was gradually strengthening and the ideal of anarchism were opposed sharply.