Introduction
The aftermath of the infamous attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains one of the worst disasters in the history of the humankind, as well as one of the worst war crimes. Though often excused by the necessity to force Japan as one of the Axis forces to surrender, the specified tactical decision is often debated in regard to its reasonability. By scrutinizing the issue and exploring the nature of the disaster, as well as its political, economic and social implications, Grunow offers a new perspective on the infamous attack.
Argument Summary
In his article, Tristan Grunow (2003) takes retrospect into the specified event, detailing the effects of the atomic bombs drop and the rationale behind the specified decision. While Grunow’s (2003) argument concerning the shock of the Japanese government and people being the main reason behind their eventual surrender being an unusual perspective on the subject matter it does provide an opportunity to view the events of the Hiroshima bombing, therefore, integrating an expanded analysis of the outcomes of the disaster. According to Grunow (2003), the connection between the release of the atomic bombs and the subsequent defeat of the axis forces is quite tenuous.
About the Authors
Tristan Grunow is a member of the Yale University and its Council on East Asian Studies. He is an expert in modern Japanese history, which makes his analysis and the resulting contribution to the assessment of the Hiroshima events particularly important. Therefore, the paper is a credible work that represents a valuable addition to the current body of knowledge on the subject matter.
Summary of Contents
The article delves into the events that transpired in Hiroshima as the atomic bomb was dropped onto the city. Specifically, the research considers the associated factors that may have contributed to Japan’s decision to surrender. These include Russia’s invasion of Manchuria, as well as the attack that Nagasaki suffered, namely, the fact that the U.S. dropped another bomb on it after Hiroshima was wiped off the face of the Earth (Grunow, 2003). The consideration of the core factors that may have influenced Japan’s decision to submit to the Allied forces leads to an objective assessment of the situation.
Strengths
The attempts to include as many associated factors that might have contribute to Japan’s final decision to surrender should be deemed as the main strength of the article. Grunow (2003) excels in his endeavor to examine the situation as objectively as possible and consider a broad variety of sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and technological factors that may have driven Japan to accept its defeat in the WWII. The specified detail adds a substantial amount of objectivity to the analysis and provides a detailed picture of the sociopolitical and socioeconomic environment in which the tragedy occurred. As a result, a comprehensive assessment of the issue becomes possible.
Weaknesses
Unfortunately, the weaknesses that reduce the quality of the analysis slightly. Among the core disadvantages of the paper, one should mention the lack of alternative viewpoints on the subject matter. Admittedly the authors offer a comprehensive evaluation of the key factors and detail their impact on the decisions made by the U.S. in regard to the attack, as well as the choices made by the Japanese government in regard to the surrender. However, there is an absence of the other perspectives on the attack on Hiroshima and the following decision of Japan to surrender.
Conclusion
Due to the diligent assessment of the core facts regarding the attack on Hiroshima, as well as a comprehensive analysis of the essential economic, political, and sociocultural factors, Grunow (2003) produces an excellent analysis of the issue. Moreover, the author offers an original interpretation of the events and the role that the attack had on Japan’s surrender. Therefore, the article is worth considering a crucial contribution to the historical discourse.
Reference
Grunow, T. (2003). A Reexamination of the “shock of Hiroshima”: The Japanese bomb projects and the surrender decision. Journal of American-East Asian Relations, 12(3-4), 155–189. Web.