Nature Conservation Groups and Anti-Whaling Activism in Japan: A Comparative Political Perspective

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24730111
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Politics
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Nomura Ko 名古屋大学, 環境学研究科, 准教授 (00360793)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 圧力団体 / 環境政治過程 / 政治文化 / 環境NGO / 直接行動 / 捕鯨 / ナショナル・アイデンティティ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project considers the characteristics of nature conservation groups in Japan by studying anti-whaling activism from a comparative political perspective. The findings highlight the role of local political culture in shaping the moderate causes and strategies of Japanese groups through its exclusion of radical ideas. Another finding is the negative impact of Western groups’ tactics and ideas on the growth of the Japanese anti-whaling movement due to their radicalism not being accepted favourably in Japan. This research also suggests the need to review arguments on ‘global civil society’, ‘global citizenship’, and the role of civil society groups in global governance by taking account of the differences in activism and political culture among countries, as well as problems related to trans-border protests (particularly those protests in the form of direct action).

Free Research Field

環境政治学（特に環境政治過程における環境団体の役割について）