Mr Steven Kent
Contact
- Email: k1327870@kingston.ac.uk
- Location: Penrhyn Road
- Faculty: Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
- School: School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences
Research project: Too much or too little? Evaluating the relationship between estrangement and appeasement in Anglo-Japanese relations: 1902-1942
Abstract
This study focuses upon examining themes of appeasement and estrangement in Anglo-Japanese relations between 1902 and 1942, focusing primarily upon British policy and cultural exchanges from the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 until the fall of Singapore on February 1942, with minor studies of League of Nations documentation.
Traditional historiography and political studies suggest that appeasement was a policy overwhelmingly directed at Germany during the 1930's, but Japan's actions and ambitions, dating as far back as the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 can be credited for beginning a snowball effect of British politicians finding themselves unable to effectively produce countermeasures to Japanese foreign policy. This 'snowball' of appeasement grew larger at periods when Britain and Japan were further estranged, despite overwhelming pro-Japan feelings in British politics and society as late as the outbreak of war.
- Research degree: PhD
- Title of project: Too much or too little? Evaluating the relationship between estrangement and appeasement in Anglo-Japanese relations: 1902-1942
- Research supervisor: Dr Atsuko Ichijo
- Other research supervisor: Dr Steven Woodbridge
Biography
I focus my research upon diplomatic history, particularly that of British exchanges with the Far East and Appeasement of Japan. This tends to narrow down upon the idea of Britain "appeasing" Japan both during the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and afterwards.
Other interests include reading and writing historical and science fiction. I served as the President of Kingston University's Creative Writing Society (2019-2023). I also play ice hockey for Imperial College (2013-ongoing), representing Kingston University in national and international tournaments. As a passive hobby, I enjoy growing citrus plants, chillies and home brewing mead.
Areas of research interest
- International and diplomatic history
- British Far Eastern foreign and imperial policy
- Anglo - Japanese Relations 1902-1945
- The Great Powers
- Victorian and Edwardian Foreign Policy
- The First and Second World Wars
- Inter-war international diplomacy 1919-39
- Appeasement
- Emotions in history
- Estrangement
Qualifications
- MA History, Kingston University
- BA Hons Creative Writing and History, Kingston University
Publications
- Kent, Steven, Of Spice and Men: How Spices Built the VOC (Epoch Magazine, University of Lancaster), December 2021
- Kent, Steven, When Japan Occupied London: Remembering the Japan-Britain Exhibition of 1910 (Epoch Magazine, University of Lancaster), June 2021
- Kent, Steven, Enduring Trauma: Female Experiences of Japans "War Gods" (Epoch Magazine, University of Lancaster), September 2020