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From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms

Year 2016, Volume: 21 Issue: 1, 63 - 82, 01.04.2016

Abstract

With the onset of the 21st century, Japan is passing through a transformative era in which it is in the process of forming a new national role conception. This study argues that as a result of international pressure, changes in domestic leadership and social norms, and a growing desire for respect in international affairs, Japan has been changing its foreign policy norms and its national role conception. The change in Japanese foreign policy manifests itself most clearly in Japan’s international peacekeeping behaviour and the accompanying new legislation governing the functional limitations on its armed forces. This study suggests that path dependency increases the chance that Japanese foreign policy norms and the resulting behavioural effects will push Japan towards a more internationalist path, with contribution to peacekeeping being its most definitive behavioural outcome, thus offering “peacekeeping state” as a new National Role Conception that has the potential to define Japan’s role in the world in the future.

References

  • 1 Tsuneo Akaha, “Japan’s Comprehensive Security Policy: A New East Asian Environment”, Asian Survey, Vol. 31, No. 4 (1991), pp. 324-340; Peter J. Katzenstein. J., & Nobuo Okawara, “Japan’s National Security: Structures, Norms, and Policies”, International Security, Vol. 17, No. 4 (1993), pp. 84-118.
  • 2 Kalevi J. Holsti, “National Role Conceptions in the Study of Foreign Policy”, International Studies Quarterly, Vol.14, No.3 (1970), p. 266.
  • 3 Ibid, pp. 245-246, emphasis in the original.
  • 4 Ibid, p. 266.
  • 5 Ibid.
  • 6 Ibid.
  • 7 Glen D. Hook, Julie Gilson, Christopher W. Hughes & Hugo Dobson, Japan’s International Relations: Politics, Economics and Security, Oxford, Routledge, 2011.
  • 8 “The Constitution of Japan”, Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet, at http://japan. kantei.go.jp/ constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html. (last visited 29 June 2016).
  • 9 Even though the agreement is called the Treaty of “Mutual” Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, it brings obligations only for the USA to protect Japan and not vice-versa. Thus supporters of the agreement argued that this is not an infringement of the principle of non-belligerence.
  • 10 At least up until the administration of the coalition government lead by the Social Democrat Party of Japan (1994-96), which accepted the legality of both the SDF and the Security Agreement, thus effectively taking it out of the agenda of Japanese domestic politics to a large extent. It is the Communist Party of Japan that still keeps this issue within its agenda strongly.
  • 11 Thomas U. Berger, “Norms, Identity, and National Security in Germany and Japan”, in Peter J. Katzenstein (ed.), The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in World Politics, New York, Columbia University Press, 1996, pp. 317-356.
  • 12 J. Patrick Boyd & Richard J. Samuels, “Nine Lives? The Politics of Constitutional Reform in Japan”, East-West Center Washington, Washington, DC: Policy studies, No.19, 2005.
  • 13 For the idea of the trading state: Richard Rosecrance, The Rise of the Trading State: Commerce and Conquest in the Modern World, New York, Basic Books, 1986.
  • 14 Yoichi Funabashi, “Japan and the new world order”, Foreign Affairs. Vol.70, No.5 (1991- 1992), p. 58.
  • 15 Sam Jameson, “Japan’s Contradictory Help”, Japan Times, 1 July 1991, at http://www. japantimes. co.jp/opinion/2001/11/29/commentary/japans-contradictory-help/#. V6NEAK5Q_-Y (last visited 1 July 2016).
  • 16 Lindsay Black & Yih-Jye Hwang, “China and Japan’s Quest for Great Power Status: Norm Entrepreneurship in Anti-Piracy Responses”, International Relations, Vol. 26, No. 4 (2012), pp.431-451.
  • 17 It could be argued that since Japan contributes to the UN without delaying its dues and without tying its use to conditions, unlike the USA, it has a more critical role than even the USA does in the financial wellbeing of the UN, even though the USA is the largest contributor.
  • 18 Nobumasa Akiyama, “Human Security at the Crossroad: Human Security in the Japanese Foreign Policy Context”, in Hideaki Shinoda & Jeong, How-Won (eds.), Conflict and Human Security: A Search for new Approaches of Peace-building, Hiroshima, IPHSU Research Report Series, 2004, pp. 252-270.
  • 19 Kyoko Hatakeyama, “Japan’s Peacekeeping Policy: Strategic Calculation or Internalization of an International Norm?”, The Pacific Review, Vol. 27, No. 5 (2014), pp.629-650.
  • 20 As cited in: Masayuki Tadokoro, “Change and Continuity in Japan’s Abnormalcy: An Emerging External Attitude of the Japanese Public”, in Yoshihide Soeya, Masayuki Tadokoro, and David A. Welch (eds.), Japan as a ‘Normal Country’? A Nation in Search of its Place in the World, Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2011, pp. 38-71; citation 9, p.69.
  • 21 Ibid, pp. 49-51.
  • 22 Katsumi Ishizuka, “Japan’s Policy towards UN Peacekeeping Operations”, International Peacekeeping, Vol.12, No.1( 2005), pp.67-86.
  • 23 Julie Gilson, “Building Peace or Following the Leader? Japan’s Peace Consolidation Diplomacy”, Pacific Affairs, Vol. 80, No. 1 (2007), p. 33.
  • 24 Ibid, pp. 34-35.
  • 25 Interviews done with Turkish and Japanese diplomatic circles, Ankara and Tokyo, 2010- 2015.
  • 26 Hatakeyama, “Japan’s peacekeeping policy”.
  • 27 Glen D. Hook, Militarisation and Demilitarisation in Contemporary Japan, London & New York, Routledge, 2003.
  • 28 B. Singh Bhubhindar, “Japan’s Security Policy: From A Peace State to an International State”, Pacific Review, Vol. 21, No. 3 (2008), pp. 303-325.
  • 29 Ibid.
  • 30 Jun Honna, “Japan and the Responsibility to Protect: Coping with Human Security Diplomacy”, The Pacific Review, Vol. 25, No. 1 (2012), pp. 95-112.
  • 31 Josuke Ikeda “Creating the Human Security Discourse and the Role of the Academicpolicy Complex: International Relations as ‘Japanese social science’?”, Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Vol.15, No. 2 (2009), pp. 197-209.
Year 2016, Volume: 21 Issue: 1, 63 - 82, 01.04.2016

Abstract

References

  • 1 Tsuneo Akaha, “Japan’s Comprehensive Security Policy: A New East Asian Environment”, Asian Survey, Vol. 31, No. 4 (1991), pp. 324-340; Peter J. Katzenstein. J., & Nobuo Okawara, “Japan’s National Security: Structures, Norms, and Policies”, International Security, Vol. 17, No. 4 (1993), pp. 84-118.
  • 2 Kalevi J. Holsti, “National Role Conceptions in the Study of Foreign Policy”, International Studies Quarterly, Vol.14, No.3 (1970), p. 266.
  • 3 Ibid, pp. 245-246, emphasis in the original.
  • 4 Ibid, p. 266.
  • 5 Ibid.
  • 6 Ibid.
  • 7 Glen D. Hook, Julie Gilson, Christopher W. Hughes & Hugo Dobson, Japan’s International Relations: Politics, Economics and Security, Oxford, Routledge, 2011.
  • 8 “The Constitution of Japan”, Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet, at http://japan. kantei.go.jp/ constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html. (last visited 29 June 2016).
  • 9 Even though the agreement is called the Treaty of “Mutual” Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, it brings obligations only for the USA to protect Japan and not vice-versa. Thus supporters of the agreement argued that this is not an infringement of the principle of non-belligerence.
  • 10 At least up until the administration of the coalition government lead by the Social Democrat Party of Japan (1994-96), which accepted the legality of both the SDF and the Security Agreement, thus effectively taking it out of the agenda of Japanese domestic politics to a large extent. It is the Communist Party of Japan that still keeps this issue within its agenda strongly.
  • 11 Thomas U. Berger, “Norms, Identity, and National Security in Germany and Japan”, in Peter J. Katzenstein (ed.), The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in World Politics, New York, Columbia University Press, 1996, pp. 317-356.
  • 12 J. Patrick Boyd & Richard J. Samuels, “Nine Lives? The Politics of Constitutional Reform in Japan”, East-West Center Washington, Washington, DC: Policy studies, No.19, 2005.
  • 13 For the idea of the trading state: Richard Rosecrance, The Rise of the Trading State: Commerce and Conquest in the Modern World, New York, Basic Books, 1986.
  • 14 Yoichi Funabashi, “Japan and the new world order”, Foreign Affairs. Vol.70, No.5 (1991- 1992), p. 58.
  • 15 Sam Jameson, “Japan’s Contradictory Help”, Japan Times, 1 July 1991, at http://www. japantimes. co.jp/opinion/2001/11/29/commentary/japans-contradictory-help/#. V6NEAK5Q_-Y (last visited 1 July 2016).
  • 16 Lindsay Black & Yih-Jye Hwang, “China and Japan’s Quest for Great Power Status: Norm Entrepreneurship in Anti-Piracy Responses”, International Relations, Vol. 26, No. 4 (2012), pp.431-451.
  • 17 It could be argued that since Japan contributes to the UN without delaying its dues and without tying its use to conditions, unlike the USA, it has a more critical role than even the USA does in the financial wellbeing of the UN, even though the USA is the largest contributor.
  • 18 Nobumasa Akiyama, “Human Security at the Crossroad: Human Security in the Japanese Foreign Policy Context”, in Hideaki Shinoda & Jeong, How-Won (eds.), Conflict and Human Security: A Search for new Approaches of Peace-building, Hiroshima, IPHSU Research Report Series, 2004, pp. 252-270.
  • 19 Kyoko Hatakeyama, “Japan’s Peacekeeping Policy: Strategic Calculation or Internalization of an International Norm?”, The Pacific Review, Vol. 27, No. 5 (2014), pp.629-650.
  • 20 As cited in: Masayuki Tadokoro, “Change and Continuity in Japan’s Abnormalcy: An Emerging External Attitude of the Japanese Public”, in Yoshihide Soeya, Masayuki Tadokoro, and David A. Welch (eds.), Japan as a ‘Normal Country’? A Nation in Search of its Place in the World, Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2011, pp. 38-71; citation 9, p.69.
  • 21 Ibid, pp. 49-51.
  • 22 Katsumi Ishizuka, “Japan’s Policy towards UN Peacekeeping Operations”, International Peacekeeping, Vol.12, No.1( 2005), pp.67-86.
  • 23 Julie Gilson, “Building Peace or Following the Leader? Japan’s Peace Consolidation Diplomacy”, Pacific Affairs, Vol. 80, No. 1 (2007), p. 33.
  • 24 Ibid, pp. 34-35.
  • 25 Interviews done with Turkish and Japanese diplomatic circles, Ankara and Tokyo, 2010- 2015.
  • 26 Hatakeyama, “Japan’s peacekeeping policy”.
  • 27 Glen D. Hook, Militarisation and Demilitarisation in Contemporary Japan, London & New York, Routledge, 2003.
  • 28 B. Singh Bhubhindar, “Japan’s Security Policy: From A Peace State to an International State”, Pacific Review, Vol. 21, No. 3 (2008), pp. 303-325.
  • 29 Ibid.
  • 30 Jun Honna, “Japan and the Responsibility to Protect: Coping with Human Security Diplomacy”, The Pacific Review, Vol. 25, No. 1 (2012), pp. 95-112.
  • 31 Josuke Ikeda “Creating the Human Security Discourse and the Role of the Academicpolicy Complex: International Relations as ‘Japanese social science’?”, Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Vol.15, No. 2 (2009), pp. 197-209.
There are 31 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Bahadır Pehlivantürk

Publication Date April 1, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2016 Volume: 21 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Pehlivantürk, B. (2016). From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms. PERCEPTIONS: Journal of International Affairs, 21(1), 63-82.
AMA Pehlivantürk B. From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms. PERCEPTIONS. April 2016;21(1):63-82.
Chicago Pehlivantürk, Bahadır. “From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms”. PERCEPTIONS: Journal of International Affairs 21, no. 1 (April 2016): 63-82.
EndNote Pehlivantürk B (April 1, 2016) From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms. PERCEPTIONS: Journal of International Affairs 21 1 63–82.
IEEE B. Pehlivantürk, “From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms”, PERCEPTIONS, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 63–82, 2016.
ISNAD Pehlivantürk, Bahadır. “From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms”. PERCEPTIONS: Journal of International Affairs 21/1 (April 2016), 63-82.
JAMA Pehlivantürk B. From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms. PERCEPTIONS. 2016;21:63–82.
MLA Pehlivantürk, Bahadır. “From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms”. PERCEPTIONS: Journal of International Affairs, vol. 21, no. 1, 2016, pp. 63-82.
Vancouver Pehlivantürk B. From Peace State to Peacekeeping State: Japan’s Changing National Role Conception and Foreign Policy Norms. PERCEPTIONS. 2016;21(1):63-82.