Eas321 unit 11
- 1. • Structure: Cold War bipolairty, Post-Cold War: Security Treaty, US alliance, bipolarity • Agency: Maintaining US alliance remains priority • Norms: Bilateralism above all others Last Week: Challenges for Japan
- 3. Aim • To review and consolidate our understanding of Japan’s international relations in theoretical, conceptual and empirical terms and to reflect on the role of Japan in the world.
- 4. Objectives • To review the relative importance of structure, agency and norms in explaining Japan’s international relations in the postwar and post-Cold War eras – in terms of politics, economics and security. • To consolidate how structure, agency and norms can be used to explain Japan’s relationship with the US and East Asia. • To revise the primary challenges and constraints faced by Japan in its international relations going forward.
- 5. Introduction • Japan’s international relations charted in relation to the rise and fall of great powers • Challenger, but ultimately sought support of major power of the day (China, UK, US) • Within the bounds of constraints and opportunities dictated by the international system, Japan instrumentalised its foreign relations to catch up with the West.
- 6. Structure, agency and norms • Structure, agency and norms can be used in combination to provide a distinct, eclectic theoretical approach which can explain Japan’s international relations; • Key elements: structure of the international system, agency of leading actors, norms which inform actions; • Changing structure, from bipolar to multipolar and back again(?), increasing agency of the Prime Minister, pre- eminence of bilateralism internationally and antimilitarism domestically
- 7. US-Japan political relationship • Japan’s behaviour within the context of the US-Japan political relationship can be understood through the structure, agency, and norms approach. • Structure can impede/constrain Japan’s behaviour and can also provide opportunities. • Agency is important in accepting the pressures of structure, initiating and negotiating policy. It involves a range of actors. • Norms can constrain as well as provide opportunity for behaviour or policy.
- 8. Japan-US economic relationship • Japan changed from a devastated economy through a second-tier economy, to a challenger to the US economic dominance; • Case studies demonstrate US dominance and pressure in trade disputes (Automobiles, steel, semiconductors); • In the Post-Cold War period, Japan has learned to use the multilateral institutions to seek a solution more favorable to its national interests.
- 9. US-Japan security relationship • The general trend has been for a weakening of the constraints on the Self-Defence Forces; • The US pressure has decreased and Japan has shown greater willingness to boost cooperation with the US military; • A weakening of the anti-militarism norm in shaping the US- Japan bilateral security relationship; • Reaffirmation of bilateralism despite Japan’s increased tendency towards independence.
- 10. East Asia-Japan political relationship • Japan’s behaviour within the context of its relations with East Asia can be understood through the lens of structure, agency and norms • Asianist and Developmental norms have been at the heart of Japan’s post-war attempts to re-connect with East Asia • The bipolar structure of the Cold War defined Japan’s pre- 1990 relations. The US-Japan Security Alliance continues to act as an impediment to deepened relations with ASEAN. • The legacy of colonialism continues to define Japan’s relations with its Northeast Asian neighbours, less so with the ASEAN states.
- 11. East Asia-Japan economic relations • East Asian Economic Crisis damaged Japan’s reputation; • China represents challenge to regional economic leadership; • Difficulty in balancing between Asianism, Economism, and Developmentalism on the one hand, and the bilateral relationship with the US on the other; • But . . . The post-crisis strategy has worked to restore Japan’s position to a large extent; • Pressure from China has given Japan impetus to further integrate with East Asian economies, especially ASEAN.
- 12. East Asia-Japan security relations • Strong commitment to bilateralism constrains Japan’s efforts to developing new security links in East Asia; • New opportunities for Japan to promote multi-lateral security dialogue in the region (e.g. ASEAN Forum), which however is only supplementary to its bilateralism; • Challenges for Japan to developing new security links in the region: a. Structural legacy of war (China; Korea); b. Taiwan and North Korea issues.
- 13. Challenges for Japan • China’s rise and territorial problem • US – military presence and realignment • North Korea
- 14. Conclusion • Strong commitment to bilateralism constrains Japan’s efforts to developing new security links in East Asia; • New opportunities for Japan to promote multi-lateral security dialogue in the region (e.g. ASEAN Forum), which however is only supplementary to its bilateralism; • Challenges for Japan to developing new security links in the region: a. Structural legacy of war (China; Korea); b. Taiwan and North Korea issues.