Mongorujin ni totte no Manshukoku: Minzoku kyoowa toiu kukan / What did Manchukuo mean for Mongols: The Space of 'Racial Harmony'

Abstract

Manchukuo which was established in 1932 encompassed theeastern part of Inner Mongolia. The traditional Mongol territory made uproughly half of the new state�s territory. In order to reconcile the Japanesepresence in the region with other ethnic groups, the newJapanese‐Army‐sponsored state adopted the founding ideology of �harmony of thefive races�. The Mongols were very important for the Japanese in creatingthe ideology of racial harmony. This concept of racial harmony also provided apolitical space for the Mongols to attempt to achieve cultural autonomy, if not political independence.