While diplomats and soldiers may carve out empires, civilians also play a crucial role in building nation-states. Constructing Empire shows how planners, architects, and civilians contributed? often enthusiastically? to constructing a modern colonial enclave in the Japanese puppet state of Manchuria. Japanese imperialism in Manchuria before 1931 developed in a manner similar to that of other imperialists elsewhere in China, but beginning in 1932 the Japanese sought to surpass their rivals by transforming the northeastern city of Changchun into a grand capital for the new client state of Manchukuo, putting it on the cutting edge of Japanese propaganda. Providing a thematic assessment of the evolving nature of planning, architecture, economy, and society in Changchun, Bill Sewell examines the key organizations involved in developing Japan?s empire there as part of larger efforts to assert its place in the world order. This engaging book sheds light on colonial attitudes, changing definitions of national identity, and the responsibilities that civilians bear for historical events.