Reverse course

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Reverse Course is the common (but contentious) labeling for the change in U.S. policy toward Japan during the post-World War II reconstruction.

It is often linked to escalation of Cold War, the "loss" of China and the Korean War. This is a misnomer; this should not signify an unraveling of democratization. It is better understood as a ‘shift in focus’—not a 180° swing. Japan appeared weak—inflation, poverty, and leftist parties were growing—and ripe for communism. This shift fit into the containment policy of the US and was similar to Europe’s Marshall Plan. According to George Kennan’s policies, Japan would serve as an industrial engine of East Asia. A strong Japanese economy would prevent Communism from spreading in Asia. Public sector workers lost right to strike, blow to ideological freedom (1950 Red Purge), halt to Zaibatsu busting process, and loosening to anti-monopoly laws.

Significance for Japanese Foreign Policy: This ‘reverse course’ made Japan the corner stone of US policy in Asia. Further it forced Japan’s foreign policy to be based around its relationship with the US.