2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Why, When, and How Does Japan Get Involved in Diplomacy to Settle Conflicts? The Case of Conflicts in Southeast Asia during the Cold War
| Project/Area Number |
19K13625
|
|---|
| Research Institution | National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
PRESSELLO Andrea 政策研究大学院大学, 政策研究科, 准教授 (30834973)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
|
| Keywords | Japanese diplomacy / Japan’s foreign policy / Peacemaking / Southeast Asia / Cambodia / Cold War / Conflict |
|---|
| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In the first year, the research has focused on investigating Japan’s peacemaking diplomacy on the Cambodian conflict (1970); research has also been conducted on Tokyo’s peace diplomacy on the Vietnam War. Priority has been given to finding out: the motives and features of Japan’s involvement in peace efforts; international reactions to that engagement; the impact on Japan’s role in Southeast Asia. For this purpose, research has been carried out at diplomatic archives in Japan, Australia, and the US; other primary sources have also been studied. The preliminary findings of the research have been presented at a seminar (Tokyo) and at an international conference (Manila), and are now being incorporated in a paper to be submitted for publication in an academic journal. So far, the research activity has provided indications on: peacemaking as part of a multilateral effort as a new area of Japanese diplomacy; the existence of intertwining domestic and international dynamics behind Japan’s engagement in peace diplomacy; the role of peacemaking diplomacy in the context of Tokyo’s diplomatic strategy toward the US; and, limits and strengths of Japanese diplomacy for resolving international conflicts. The preliminary findings also reveal the implications of peacemaking for Japan’s role in Southeast Asia, in the form of an expansion of the horizons of Tokyo’s regional diplomacy. The significance of the preliminary findings is that they deepen understanding of Japan’s role in Asia during the Cold War by shedding light on an under-studied aspect of Japanese diplomacy.
|
| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Progress is generally in line with expectations, although the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the final months of the fiscal year has somewhat slowed down and impaired some of the research activities (e.g. archival work in Japan and abroad, organization of seminars to discuss the research project and its findings). Adjustments have been made to the general design and methodology of the research project. Additional work has been done on reviewing relevant previous studies. The primary sources collected in the past year have been examined; based on the result of that examination, the investigation of the case-study of Japanese peace diplomacy on the 1970 Cambodian conflict has been completed. The findings of that investigations are currently being prepared and edited to be submitted for publication. Attempts to conduct interviews with relevant officials who played a role in relation to the issues under investigations have so far not materialized. This is largely a result of the fact that events took place several decades ago. If there will be an opportunity, further attempts to conduct interviews will be made. Research work has also began on other case-studies. A review of the literature on them is being conducted, and work is being carried out to identify sources of primary data on the new case-studies. Procurement of those primary sources has begun, as has their analysis. At the same time, secondary sources related to the new case-studies are also being procured; their analysis is being carried out.
|
| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In this fiscal year, research work will continue on the case-studies indicated in the research proposal. The review of previous studies on the topic and the search of sources of relevant primary data will continue. The procurement of data will be done through archival work, to be carried out in Japan and abroad. However, it is expected that the COVID-19 pandemic situation might create difficulties (at least in the coming months) to the activity of collection of primary sources and of participation in events (e.g. international conferences) that require travelling overseas. Increased efforts will therefore be carried out to collect primary sources through online databases and other activities. Secondary sources related to the new case-studies will also be procured and examined. The collected materials will be analyzed and the preliminary findings will be discussed and presented. On the basis of the feedback received, the findings will be revised and a paper based on them will be drafted. Preliminary work will begin on the next stage of the research activity to be undertaken in the following year.
|
| Causes of Carryover |
As a result of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, plans for research activities overseas were cancelled.
|
