Imperialism

The challenge of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun is that it presents Commodore Perry's visit to the Japanese in an almost entirely positive light. Regardless of whether Perry's interactions with Japan were morally justified or not, it seems to be at least partly an instance of imperialism, where one political power imposes itself upon another for its own gain. Many historians see Commodore Perry's successes in Japan as the direct result of an economic drive to expand trade routes and an attempt to change Japanese society. But the author has a different view. She argues that Commodore Perry was primarily interested in protecting the safe passage of Americans into Japanese waters and securing some minor trade routes. Perry's tactics are left not criticized unknown reasons. Blumberg admits that Perry was forceful and sometimes deceptive, but nonetheless his role is seen as largely positive in Japanese...