Why, When, and How Does Japan Get Involved in Diplomacy to Settle Conflicts? The Case of Conflicts in Southeast Asia during the Cold War

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13625
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 06020:International relations-related
• 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 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Japan’s peace diplomacy / Japan and Southeast Asia / Japan’s foreign policy / Conflict resolution / Cold War

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By investigating and comparing four cases of Japanese diplomacy to resolve Cold War-era conflicts in Southeast Asia, this research has sought to clarify the motivations and characteristics of Japan’s role as a peace-broker. This study has found that geopolitical and economic factors, political leaders' interests, and the enhancement of Japan’s regional role were important factors behind Tokyo’s decision to engage in peacemaking. Considerations related to Japanese relations with the United States have, on some occasions, been part of the factors shaping the Japanese government’s decision to act for peace. As a peace-broker, Japan showed a tendency to adopt and inclusive and non-confrontational approach, often aiming at facilitating dialogue among the concerned parties. Behind-the-scenes diplomacy, publicly announced initiatives, and “economic incentives” are among the instruments used by the Japanese government to carry out its peace diplomacy.

Free Research Field

日本外交史と国際関係

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This study fosters understanding of Japan’s postwar diplomacy and potential for playing a larger peacemaking role. It challenges views in the literature that Cold War era-Japan shied away from international political affairs, and shows that Japan’s role in Southeast Asia went beyond an economic one.