Lestev A.E. Understanding of the mentality of the country as an important factor of international relations building (case of postwar relations between the USSR, the USA and Japan)

Abstract: The article focuses on the postwar relations between the Soviet Union, the USA and Japan, particularly, on the issue of extradition of the Emperor Hirohito to the International Military Tribunal for war crimes. The question of appropriateness of punishment was considered by American command on the base of the analysis of specialists and in terms of the political consequences of this step for the American policy towards Japan. The issue of the emperor prosecution was one of the main contradictions between the USSR and the USA in the sphere of a postwar order in Japan and served as one of catalysts of worsening of relations between the USSR and Japan. The research is based on the historical documents, the evidences of the witnesses of those events and the articles and scientific works of the leading specialists in this sphere. The author concludes that American specialists had a perfect understanding of the mentality of the Japanese and managed to choose a successful strategy in relation to Japan and the USSR. Using the issues of prosecution of the emperor, repatriation of Japanese prisoners of war, territorial belonging of the Kuril Islands, the USA created a “Japanese problem” for the USSR, which hasn’t been solved yet. 

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