Professor

Satoshi Nishida

Profile

Specialized field

German Social and Economic History

Research theme

Reconstruction and reconstruction of German society and economy after World War II

Subjects in charge

Western Economic History, Modern Economic History

Specialized field

European Social and Economic History

Research theme
  1. Germany's economic reconstruction after World War II
  2. The reception of refugees and deportees in Germany and their social and economic integration after World War II
research content

From a comparative perspective with Japan, I have been researching the social and economic reconstruction and recovery process of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) after World War II, particularly during the period of occupation. Some of the results of this research were published in 2007 (Satoshi Nishida, Der Wiederaufbau der japanischen Wirtschaft nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg. Die amerikanische Japanpolitik und die ökonomischen Nachkriegsreformen in Japan 1942-1952, Stuttgart 2007.). Furthermore, from the perspective of a comparison with the German "production system," I have also conducted research on the Japanese economy, which has been referred to as the "lost 20 years" since the collapse of the bubble in 1992, particularly on the effectiveness of the Japanese-style economic system (The Japanese Production Regime – a model? Exercises against Japanese economic trends in the Toyota Production Systems, in: D. Gilgen, C. Kopper, A. Leutzsch (Hg.), Deutschland als Modell? Rheinischer Kapitalismus und Globalisierung seit dem 19. Jahrhundert, Bonn 2010, p. 255-283.).
I am currently engaged in research aimed at empirically tracing, based on unpublished materials, the process of socio-economic integration of Germans who fled from the eastern regions of the former German Empire to western and central Germany as refugees and deportees after World War II during the period of occupation and the early period of the Federal Republic of Germany (1945–1955).

Research and Education Policy

In the future, I would like to continue my current research and, as an extension of it, reconsider the impact and significance that refugees and deportees had on Germany's society and economy in the early post-war period.
Historical research is an academic field that (re)constructs and (re)interprets the past through dialogue with historical materials piled up in archives - indeed, lying dormant - but it can also be said to be a future-oriented field that uses these materials to think about current issues and, ultimately, the future. This is precisely where the joy of historical research lies, but I would like to cultivate not only an eye for history, but also the ability to speak about the problems facing the world today.

Message

When interest disappears, memory also disappears.
(Goethe, "Maxims and Reflections") Graduate school is a place for research, not for studying. Always be curious and inquisitive, and devote yourself to your academic research.

Interview

Please introduce yourself.

I was shocked when I first heard the music of Kraftwerk (a German band known as the pioneers of techno music) when I was in junior high school. Since then, I have been interested in Germany and German people. I love Western music, and even now, when I have the time, I go to their concerts!

Please tell us about your research.

My specialty is German social and economic history, and I am currently researching the integration process of how large numbers of people who flooded into Germany after World War II as refugees and deportees from the eastern European regions that were once part of the German Empire were absorbed into German society and economy.

What kind of contributions to society do you expect as your research progresses?

Even today, there are many conflict zones around the world, and many refugees. As the United Nations has established the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the problem of refugees is an urgent issue that must be resolved on a global scale. We hope that Germany's past experiences will provide clues for finding solutions to these problems.

What can you learn in the seminar?

In my seminar, we study European economic history, especially the history of industrialization. This also teaches us the importance of understanding problems from a broad historical perspective. From there, we also consider questions such as why there are "rich countries" and "poor countries."

Please say a few words to all the students.

Soka University is a place where you can expand your abilities and potential to the limitless extent. To that end, I hope you will always maintain a strong intellectual curiosity and give your all to your studies and the daily challenges you face.