Unveiling Power Dynamics: Analyzing the Role of Think Tanks in Shaping the China Threat Discourse in US and Japanese Diplomacy

• Project/Area Number: 25K04964
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 06020:International relations-related
• Research Institution: Teikyo University
• Principal Investigator: 松岡 美里 帝京大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (60823177)
• Project Period (FY): 2025-04-01 – 2029-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2025)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥600,000); Fiscal Year 2028: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2027: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
• Keywords: hegemony / think tanks / knowledge production / China / discourse

Outline of Research at the Start

This research examines the evolution of the "China threat" theory, focusing on how U.S. and Japanese think tanks influence policy through discourse manipulation. Using a Gramscian framework, it analyzes the relationship between think tank outputs, policy recommendations, and decision-making. The study offers insights into the role of informal political actors in shaping perceptions of China, contributing to informed policy development amid geopolitical challenges.