Comparing the Reconstruction of State Images of Germany and Japan in the Post-World War II Era in the Perspective of Political Symbolism Theory

Abstract

National image has become an important factor in the competition for soft power among countries. Germany and Japan, as defeated countries in World War II, have both formulated a series of strategies and carried out actions on image reconstruction. This paper adopts the method of documentary analysis to disaggregate the strategic deployment and practices of image building in the two countries into different dimensions and place them under the theoretical framework of political symbols for systematic analyses. From this, it is concluded that there are significant differences between the two countries in terms of their strategic priorities, with Germany focuses methodologically on the cultural diplomacy and geographically on the Europe; and Japan prioritizes economic initiatives and the western community. This prioritization can be a reflection of the underlying attitude divergence between the two nations. In this way, the policies of the two countries in the field of foreign relations can be examined in an ontological and globalized perspective.