The publishing house "Monuments of Historical Thought" published the book of Candidate of Historical Sciences O. N. Rozanov " Award systems in politics and ideology of North-East Asian countries "(Moscow, 2008, 364 p., fig., circulation of 1000 copies).

For the first time in Russian and foreign historical science, the author analyzes the features of the state development of Japan, China, Korea and Mongolia through the prism of studying their award systems, which the author considers as an integral part of the political structure of the countries of the region. Pointing out the indissoluble connection of the award system with all the components of the political structure without exception - state institutions, norms of values, ideology, etc. - O. Rozanov reveals their role in mobilizing the elite strata of the nation and the broad masses to fulfill specific tasks set by the authorities in the interests of development, and often the country's survival (for example, in the case of period of wars).

The work is based simultaneously on chronological and country-specific principles. Each chapter is devoted to a specific period in the development and evolution of award systems based on the example of individual specific countries in the region: the origin at the beginning of the XX century, the period of revolutions and wars of the first third of the last century, the eve of the Second World War, the war and post-war years, and, finally, the award systems of the countries of North-East Asia (NEA) at the present stage.

The author shows how, with the strengthening of the central government, the interest of leading circles in the wider use of the award system in implementing state policy and, above all, in modernizing their states, strengthening military power, and developing international relations grew. At the same time, its main components - orders and medals - usually became iconic national symbols representing the identity and goals of the nation.

Rich in events and sharp turns, the history of the region has provided the author with the opportunity to trace the transformation of its award systems in a variety of conditions, sometimes unique from the point of view of world experience.

So, in Japan, the foundations of the award system, laid down in the Meiji era, played a significant role in the fact that the country was able to overcome feudal backwardness in the shortest possible time and become one of the major military powers. The author describes in detail, using concrete examples, how, despite the defeat in World War II and the complete collapse of Japanese militarism, the award system of Japan continues to play the role of one of the important levers of ideological influence.

The process of creating the national award system of China, which began during the decline of the Qing Empire, is described in detail. However, according to the data presented by O. Rozanov, its active formation and use as a tool for solving priority political tasks began only after the Xinhai Revolution of 1911-1913, which overthrew the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Later, the leadership of the Kuomintang played an important role in this.

Of particular interest is the description of what a strong impact on the formation and development of the Chinese reward system was imposed by the complex political processes taking place in the country, the confrontation, including armed ones, between different poles of power in China, the intervention of foreign states and, above all, Japan. The Chinese system was further enhanced by the Civil War, the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and the emergence of a "parallel" Chinese state in Taiwan. A special section is devoted to how China and Taiwan use their award-winning tools.

In Korea, the first steps to create a national award system were taken in the 1900s, but the annexation of this country by Japan in 1910 led to its elimination. After the defeat of Japan in World War II and the formation of two Korean states, each of them formed its own award system. Their parallel existence for several decades in the context of antagonism between the North and South of the peninsula, including the war between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea, provides interesting material for studying these systems as a tool that helps to mobilize the population's efforts to solve the tasks set by the authorities.

In Mongolia, the first national orders were established shortly after the Xinhai Revolution and Outer Mongolia's entry into the path of secession from China and de facto independence. However, the formation of a full-blooded award system began only after the proclamation of the Mongolian People's Republic in 1921 and the adoption of the country's first constitution. In many ways, it is

it followed the Soviet example. But its development was influenced by the special political and socio-economic conditions of a unique experiment in the transition from feudal society to socialism. At the turn of the 1990s, Mongolia once again experienced dramatic political changes, but the Mongolian award system, having undergone certain adjustments, basically continues to function in the same form and in new, changed conditions.

The author comprehensively and comprehensively analyzes the originality and features inherent in the IAS award systems, which stem from the peculiarities of historical development, traditions, religious and philosophical views, way of life and customs.

In the book under review, for the first time in Russian and foreign practice, the reader is offered: - a comprehensive study of the process of creation, development and application by states of their award system as such as a tool for implementing state policy and ideology. The author analyzes the goals of creating such a system, the principles on which it is based, and its own ideology.;

- comprehensive analysis of the origin, formation, functioning and transformation of specific award systems in one of the most dynamically developing regions of the world - North-East Asia in modern and modern times;

- of particular interest is the author's attempt to show how the emergence of new issues of domestic and international politics, economy and social development on the state's agenda caused the need for a significant, and sometimes radical, transformation of the award system;

- Finally, IAS award systems are seen as a tool for implementing international policies. In this regard, numerous interesting and sometimes unexpected examples are given of awarding foreigners with awards from the States of this region, and citizens of these countries with foreign awards.

Rozanov's work is based on a wide bibliographic base, including numerous sources in Japanese, Chinese and Korean, a number of which are being introduced into scientific circulation in our country for the first time.

The solid scientific apparatus, new verified facts presented in the work, their in-depth analysis and generalization make it interesting not only for researchers, Orientalists, politicians, diplomats, journalists, museum employees, collectors, but also for a wide range of readers interested in the NEA countries. Their attention can not fail to attract very colorful illustrations.

A. V. DENISOV, PhD in Philosophy

Permanent link to this publication: