アメリカ史の動向 : 『シリーズ・アメリカ研究の越境』[全6巻](論点をめぐって)

抄録

The series "Transgressing Borders in American Studies", published in six volumes in 2006 and 2007, is an interesting and timely addition to the field. This series was planned as part of the celebrations of the 2006 fortieth anniversary of the Japanese Association for American Studies (JAAS). The JAAS membership of Japanese specialists in American Studies comes from a wide range of disciplines with a strongly interdisciplinary flavor. In contrast to prior publications by the same Association, each chapter in this collection approaches its subject with its own methodology. As the title of the series claims, this is a work that transgresses borders, between academic fields, the races that divide American society, ethnicity, gender, class. 83 researchers (including 26 female researchers) took part in the production of this series. Volume one, "American culture and self image", in thirteen chapters provides general discussion and background information about the development of the United States of America since its foundation over 200 years ago, and the emergence of historical and cultural characteristics. Volume two, "Power and Violence", addresses the nature of the authority that underwrites the freedom and democracy that define America, illuminating the historical associations between them in fourteen chapters. Volume three covers the post-war period, focusing in particular on economic and environmental issues from the 1960s onwards. First, economic and environmental events are reviewed from a historical perspective; second, global environmental degradation and delayed environmental policy, and third, public finance, economic policy, credit, and transportation policy are reviewed from the new perspectives of environmental economic history and feminist economics. Volume five, under the theme "Globalization and Empire", reexamines from both within and without the development of the federal republic since its foundation, discussing economic issues, exchange of ideas, and the spread of culture. In volume six, "Inheritance and Transfiguration of Culture", the editors outline their desire to examine America through the prism of Japan, examining the significance of the early Meiji Japanese who studied in America, overseas artistic and cultural influences, and the overseas influence of the culture of Japanese "anime". 2008 saw multiple events centered on America generate surprise around the world. One was the financial crisis, arising from the sub-prime loan problem. Another was the election as President of a black Democratic Party candidate, Barack Obama. This series sheds some light on why these two events occurred at this time and is well worth attention.