Douglas Lummis
Encyclopedia
C. Douglas Lummis is a writer, former professor at Tsuda College
in Tokyo and former U.S. Marine.
Lummis' writings - many of which concern Japan's relationship to the United States - are extremely critical of US foreign policy. His works include the books Radical Democracy, A New Look at The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
and Japan's Radical Constitution. He has also published numerous pieces in journals such as The Nation
and Japan Focus.
has called Lummis "one of the most thoughtful, honorable, and relevant intellectuals writing about democratic practice anywhere in the world," while Karel van Wolferen
has referred to him as an "eminent observer of the American-Japanese vassalage relationship."
Lummis' ideas have been criticized, however, by the likes of Francis Fukuyama
in journals such as Foreign Affairs
.
Tsuda College
is a private women's college in Kodaira, Tokyo. The college was founded in 1900 by Tsuda Umeko as Joshi Eigaku Juku. The name was later changed to Tsuda Eigaku Juku and then Tsuda Juku Senmon Gakko and finally Tsuda Juku Daigaku in 1948....
in Tokyo and former U.S. Marine.
Life
Lummis was born in 1936 in San Francisco. He attended UC Berkeley on a Navy ROTC contract, and later did three years active duty in the Marines - the last year in Okinawa. He retired from teaching at Tsuda College in 2000.Lummis' writings - many of which concern Japan's relationship to the United States - are extremely critical of US foreign policy. His works include the books Radical Democracy, A New Look at The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture is an influential 1946 study of Japan by American anthropologist Ruth Benedict written at the invitation of the U.S. Office of War Information in order to understand and predict the behavior of the Japanese in World War II by reference...
and Japan's Radical Constitution. He has also published numerous pieces in journals such as The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
and Japan Focus.
Critical reception
Susan SontagSusan Sontag
Susan Sontag was an American author, literary theorist, feminist and political activist whose works include On Photography and Against Interpretation.-Life:...
has called Lummis "one of the most thoughtful, honorable, and relevant intellectuals writing about democratic practice anywhere in the world," while Karel van Wolferen
Karel van Wolferen
Karel van Wolferen is a Dutch journalist, writer and professor, who is particularly recognised for his knowledge of Japanese politics, economics, history and culture....
has referred to him as an "eminent observer of the American-Japanese vassalage relationship."
Lummis' ideas have been criticized, however, by the likes of Francis Fukuyama
Francis Fukuyama
Yoshihiro Francis Fukuyama is an American political scientist, political economist, and author. He is a Senior Fellow at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford. Before that he served as a professor and director of the International Development program at the School of...
in journals such as Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
.