Japan's cautious new activism in the Middle East: A qualitative change or more of the same?

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Abstract

This article analyses Japanese policy towards the Middle East in the post-Cold War era. The article argues that Japanese policy has begun to move beyond the reactive diplomacy of the Cold War years. The focus of this new approach has been Japan's growing contribution to 'soft' security in the region. However, Japan retains a tendency to focus on its narrow interests without fully taking into account the broader strategic consequences of its policies. Yet, in order to protect its overall interests in the region, Japan needs to recognize the diminishing utility of this 'free rider' approach and adopt a more active role regarding 'hard' security issues. Even allowing for the domestic constraints on Japanese policy, there is much Japan can do in this regard, especially in coordination with the US.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)245-263
Number of pages19
JournalInternational Relations of the Asia-Pacific
Volume2
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2002

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Oxford University Press and the Japan Association of International Relations 2002.

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