Japan's Evolving Security Policy: Militarisation within a Pacifist Tradition

Japan has been expanding its military roles in the post-Cold War period, and this book examines the shift in security policy by analyzing the collective ideas of political parties and the effect of an international norm. Three security areas are studied: Japans arms trade ban policy, its participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, and its enlarged military roles in international security. The weakening presence of the left since the mid-1990s and the localisation of an international norm encouraged Japan to broaden its military role, but shifts have occurred in ways that do not violate the pacifist domestic norm.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 178 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Japan has significantly expanded its military roles in the post-Cold War era, a transformation that this book explores in depth. By examining the collective ideas of political parties and the impact of international norms, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of the shift in Japan's security policy.

The analysis begins by examining the collective ideas held by political parties, which play a crucial role in shaping security policy. Factors such as domestic and international norms, as well as the localisation of an international norm when it conflicts with a domestic norm, are explored in detail. The argument presented throughout the book is that these factors play a primary role in framing Japan's security policy.

To provide a comprehensive understanding of Japan's evolving security policy, three security areas are studied: Japan's arms trade ban policy, its participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, and its enlarged military roles in international security. Through close examination, it becomes evident that the weakening presence of the left since the mid-1990s and the localisation of an international norm encouraged Japan to broaden its military role.

The book asserts that these shifts in Japan's security policy have occurred in ways that do not violate the pacifist domestic norm. It appeals to students and scholars of International Relations, Asian Politics, Asian Security Studies, and Japanese Studies, offering valuable insights into Japan's security policy and its place in the global landscape.

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367720315