TY - JOUR
T1 - Japan's cautious new activism in the Middle East
T2 - A qualitative change or more of the same?
AU - Rynhold, Jonathan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Oxford University Press and the Japan Association of International Relations 2002.
PY - 2002/8/1
Y1 - 2002/8/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84966753524&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/irap/2.2.245
DO - 10.1093/irap/2.2.245
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AN - SCOPUS:84966753524
SN - 1470-482X
VL - 2
SP - 245
EP - 263
JO - International Relations of the Asia-Pacific
JF - International Relations of the Asia-Pacific
IS - 2
ER -