The wars for Asia, 1911-1949

Part I. Fear and ambition: Japan, China, and Russia: 1. Introduction: the Asian roots of World War II

2. Japan 1931-1936: the containment of Russia and national restoration

3. China 1926-1936: chaos and the quest for the mandate of heaven

4. Russia 1917-1936: impending two-front war and world revolution

Part II. Nested wars: a civil war within a regional war within a global war: 5. Flashback to 1911 and the beginning of the long Chinese Civil War

6. The regional war: the Second Sino-Japanese War

7. Global war: World War II

8. The final act of the long Chinese Civil War

9. Conclusion: civil war as the prologue and epilogue to regional and global wars.