2020 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
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| Research Institution | National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies |
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Principal Investigator |
PRESSELLO Andrea 政策研究大学院大学, 政策研究科, 准教授 (30834973)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Japanese diplomacy / Japan and peacemaking / Japan and Southeast Asia / Japan and Cambodia / Japan and Vietnam war |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In the past fiscal year, the findings of the investigation of Japan’s peace diplomacy on the 1970 Cambodian conflict have been included in two articles that have been submitted for publication to two academic journals (the first article has already been published in January 2021). Research has also been conducted on another case-study: Japanese peace diplomacy on the Vietnam war. The investigation, whose preliminary findings have been included in a paper to be considered for publication, sheds light on the factors (domestic and international dynamics, other) that shaped Japan’s decision to engage in a relatively new area of its diplomacy (i.e. peacemaking diplomacy) as well as on the features (strong/weak points, effectiveness) of Tokyo’s involvement in efforts to resolve the Vietnam war. An important implication of that case of Japan’s peace diplomacy is that it contributed to the gradual emergence of Japan as an increasingly influential actor in Southeast Asia--beyond Japan’s traditional focus on economic contributions to regional peace and stability. Tokyo’s engagement in efforts to resolve the Indochinese problem is in fact to be viewed as part of attempts to shape the gradually emerging post-Vietnam War architecture in Southeast Asia, at a time of relative decline of the U.S. hegemonic power and military presence in the region. Research has also began on the study of a new case: that of Japanese involvement in diplomacy to settle the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation during the 1960s.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the fiscal year has affected the research work. The study of primary sources, which is central to this research projected, has been particularly affected. Archival work in Japan has been significantly constrained, whereas archival work abroad could not be carried out, due to the restrictions/difficulties in international travels and the disruption to the operations of archives. Despite those exceptional circumstances, the research project is making progress, although at a somewhat slower pace. It is hoped that in the near future an improvement of the Covid pandemic will make it possible to conduct archival research abroad. Meanwhile, considering the difficulties in carrying out archival research, primary sources and other relevant information are being searched through alternative means, such as online databases/sources and other materials. Additional work is being done on reviewing relevant previous studies.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In this fiscal year, research work will continue on the case-studies indicated in the research proposal. As previously mentioned, research work has started also on the case of Japanese diplomacy during the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation in the 1960s, and will then move to the next case study and the analysis of the general findings of the research. The review of the relevant literature and the search of sources of primary data is being carried out. In the short term, it is expected that the COVID-19 pandemic situation will continue to hamper the activity of archival work, especially abroad, due to continuing difficulties/restrictions in international travel and disruption to the operations of archives. Therefore, increased efforts will be carried out to find alternative sources of primary data. Secondary sources related to the new case-studies will also be procured and examined. The collected materials will be analyzed and the findings will be discussed and incorporated in a paper.
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| Causes of Carryover |
As a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, plans for research activities abroad and participation in international conferences abroad were cancelled.
The funds will be mainly used to finance activities aimed at searching and collecting primary sources (through online databases or other sources and, if the Covid situations allows it, through research work at international and national archives), to procure relevant secondary sources (such as purchase of relevant books), to professionally edit papers for publication, and to disseminate the results of the research. Part of the funds might be used for purchasing materials necessary to carry out the research.
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