2022 Fiscal Year Annual Research 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 |
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
|
| Keywords | Japan’s peace diplomacy / Japan and Southeast Asia / Japan and Vietnam War / Japan and Konfrontasi / Cambodian war and Japan |
|---|
| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
During FY2022, after examining Japan's peace efforts during war in Cambodia, the findings of this research project's four cases have been compared, shedding light on Japan's motivations for engaging in peace diplomacy and on the characteristics of its role. Geopolitical and economic factors, political leaders' interest, and the enhancement of its regional role drove Japan's decision to engage. Japan's relations with the US have, at times, influenced Tokyo’s choices. As a peace-broker, Japan’s approach was inclusive, non-confrontational, and often aimed at facilitating dialogue among the parties. Japan combined quiet diplomacy with publicly announced initiatives and the use of economic incentives. This study's findings contribute to deepen understanding of Japan’s postwar foreign policy: they challenge views in the literature that Cold War era-Japan shied away from involvement in international political affairs and show that Japan’s role in Southeast Asia went beyond an economic-focused one (although the latter remained predominant). Although Japanese peace efforts did not bear immediate fruits, Japan acquired valuable experience as a peace-broker and showed the potential to play a larger role in conflict-resolution, as an additional way to contribute to international peace and stability. Three articles based on this research's findings have been published in academic journals; a fourth article is being considered for publication by another journal, and a fifth article will be submitted shortly to another journal.
|
