ion. Japanese imperialism was driven by continuing preoccupation with strategic advantage and a peculiar combination of nationalist pride and insecurity" (Pyle, 1996, p. 145).
While the formal abolition of Tokugawa feudalistic class structure was accomplished by the Meiji, it was replaced by an administrative partisan, bureaucratic elite, which became strongly influential in positioning Japan as a world leader. Meanwhile, the combination of mainly preindustrial agrarian and increasingly cottage-industry peasant economy began to assume political shape based on increased wealth of formerly marginal classes. Political pressure from these classes challenged the elite bureauc
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