Asian Studies Seminar Series: Danny Orbach In brief Guest Speaker - Danny Orbach (Hebrew University of Jerusalem/Cambridge University) Abstract by Danny Orbach Between 1870 and 1945, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy gave uniquely broad legal protection to subordinates who perpetrated crimes under orders of military superiors. Not only those who followed their superiors in breaching international law were given legal immunity, but also soldiers who violated under orders the standing laws of the Japanese Army. This gave rise to a so-called “paradox of obedience”: while disobedience among officers was rampant, their subordinates were expected to unquestionably obey their orders, even in rebellion against the Japanese government. This mix of blatant disobedience to the system at large on the one hand, and blind obedience to immediate superiors on the other, was a remarkable feature of the Imperial Japanese armed forces. Drawing on law codes and court cases, the following presentation analyses the ways in which this “paradox of obedience” encouraged mutinies as well as war crimes, especially in the 1930s and during the Pacific War. About the speaker Danny Orbach is an associate professor for history and Asian studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a visiting fellow in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University. He specialises in military history, political assassinations and coups, military adventurism, illegal orders, dynamics of military massacres and the history of intelligence and espionage. His books include 'The Plots against Hitler' (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 'Curse on this Country: The Rebellious Army of Imperial Japan', and 'Fugitives: A History of Nazi Mercenaries during the Cold War'. His books have been translated to numerous languages, including Thai, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Hungarian, Italian and Spanish. About the seminar series Each year, Asian Studies welcomes a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues to present a seminar on their research, spanning fields as diverse as film and media, literature, religion, society, politics and international relations. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is necessary. Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer full undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in both Chinese and Japanese, as well as postgraduate programmes in Korean Studies and East Asian Relations. Find out more about Asian Studies at Edinburgh Jan 25 2023 16.00 - 18.00 Asian Studies Seminar Series: Danny Orbach Join us in person for a seminar by Danny Orbach (Hebrew University of Jerusalem/Cambridge University) on the 'paradox of obedience' within the Japanese Army and how it encouraged mutinies as well as war crimes, especially in the 1930s and during the Pacific War. Project Room 1.06, 50 George Square, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 50 George Square
Asian Studies Seminar Series: Danny Orbach In brief Guest Speaker - Danny Orbach (Hebrew University of Jerusalem/Cambridge University) Abstract by Danny Orbach Between 1870 and 1945, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy gave uniquely broad legal protection to subordinates who perpetrated crimes under orders of military superiors. Not only those who followed their superiors in breaching international law were given legal immunity, but also soldiers who violated under orders the standing laws of the Japanese Army. This gave rise to a so-called “paradox of obedience”: while disobedience among officers was rampant, their subordinates were expected to unquestionably obey their orders, even in rebellion against the Japanese government. This mix of blatant disobedience to the system at large on the one hand, and blind obedience to immediate superiors on the other, was a remarkable feature of the Imperial Japanese armed forces. Drawing on law codes and court cases, the following presentation analyses the ways in which this “paradox of obedience” encouraged mutinies as well as war crimes, especially in the 1930s and during the Pacific War. About the speaker Danny Orbach is an associate professor for history and Asian studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a visiting fellow in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University. He specialises in military history, political assassinations and coups, military adventurism, illegal orders, dynamics of military massacres and the history of intelligence and espionage. His books include 'The Plots against Hitler' (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 'Curse on this Country: The Rebellious Army of Imperial Japan', and 'Fugitives: A History of Nazi Mercenaries during the Cold War'. His books have been translated to numerous languages, including Thai, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Hungarian, Italian and Spanish. About the seminar series Each year, Asian Studies welcomes a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues to present a seminar on their research, spanning fields as diverse as film and media, literature, religion, society, politics and international relations. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is necessary. Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer full undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in both Chinese and Japanese, as well as postgraduate programmes in Korean Studies and East Asian Relations. Find out more about Asian Studies at Edinburgh Jan 25 2023 16.00 - 18.00 Asian Studies Seminar Series: Danny Orbach Join us in person for a seminar by Danny Orbach (Hebrew University of Jerusalem/Cambridge University) on the 'paradox of obedience' within the Japanese Army and how it encouraged mutinies as well as war crimes, especially in the 1930s and during the Pacific War. Project Room 1.06, 50 George Square, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 50 George Square
Jan 25 2023 16.00 - 18.00 Asian Studies Seminar Series: Danny Orbach Join us in person for a seminar by Danny Orbach (Hebrew University of Jerusalem/Cambridge University) on the 'paradox of obedience' within the Japanese Army and how it encouraged mutinies as well as war crimes, especially in the 1930s and during the Pacific War.
