Japan's Effectiveness as a Geo-Economic Actor: Navigating Great-Power Competition

Geo-economic strategy is becoming increasingly important due to China's growing antagonism with the US and both countries' willingness to wield economic power. Japan, given its tense political relationship with China, has demonstrated increased geo-economic agency and effectiveness. This Adelphi book examines Japan's geo-economic power in the context of great-power competition between the US and China, examining its previous underperformance, evolving understanding, and potential actions to become a more effective geo-economic actor.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Geo-economic strategy, which involves the deployment of economic instruments to achieve foreign policy objectives and project power, has been a crucial aspect of statecraft for an extended period. In recent years, this strategy has gained heightened importance due to China's growing antagonism towards the United States and the willingness of both Beijing and Washington to leverage their economic might in their confrontations. This trend holds significant implications for Japan, given its often tense political relationship with China, which remains its largest trading partner. While Japan's post-war geo-economic performance has occasionally fallen short of its status as one of the world's largest economies, more recently, Tokyo has demonstrated increased geo-economic agency and effectiveness.

In this Adelphi book, Yuka Koshino and Robert Ward delve into various disciplines, including economics, political economy, foreign policy, and security policy, and conduct interviews with key policymakers to explore Japan's geo-economic power within the framework of the great-power competition between the US and China. They examine Japan's historical underperformance, analyze how Tokyo's understanding of geo-economics has evolved, and consider the actions Japan can feasibly take to enhance its geo-economic capabilities, given the constraints on its national power projection. The authors' conclusions hold significant relevance for those interested in Japanese grand strategy and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as for middle powers seeking to navigate the complexities of great-power competition in the forthcoming decades.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032321394