Week 2 Seminar Dr. Aimee Richmonda.richmond@sheffield.ac.uk

Pattern of Japan’s International Relations: Historical Development

Last week’s ‘Food for thought’ Question…

• Q4: Why have the metaphors and perceptions of Japan’s role in the world changed? Do you recognise any of these characterisations of Japan’s international activity? Why do Japan’s international relations appear paradoxical, ‘normal’, ‘aberrant’ or ‘abnormal’?

Key concepts:

• Bilateral relations• Trilateral relations• Multilateral relations

• Proactive• Reactive

This week’s seminar questions:Q1. How have different regional and global orders impacted on Japan’s international relations in different periods? Have policy-makers been constraint by these orders? If so, why? If not, why not?

Q2. What is the dominant pattern of Japan’s international relations from the late nineteenth century onwards? What problems have been faced by Japan as a ‘late comer’ and how and why has it sought to overcome them?

Q3. What examples can you give of Japan’s proactive foreign policy? What about reactive policy? What accounts for the difference? (in each situation?)

Q4. Why has Japan developed the specific policies it has pursued? Have they been successful? If so, why? If not, why not?

Q1. How have different regional and global orders impacted on Japan’s international relations in different periods? Have policy-makers been constraint by these orders? If so, why? If not, why not?

Q2. What is the dominant pattern of Japan’s international relations from the late nineteenth century onwards? What problems have been faced by Japan as a ‘late comer’ and how and why has it sought to overcome them?

1. Overviews:- Regional and global orders- Japan as a late comer

2. Discuss Q1/Q2 in groups and feedback

Regional and Global OrdersChinese World Order- Lasted until mid 19th century- Not actually global, but regional- China, Korean Peninsula and other parts of Asia- Allowed for a regional system- Idea of the Chinese empire as the centre of the world- Economics: enhanced trade in raw materials, manufactured goods,

medicinal herbs and works of art- Politics: Other East Asian countries had to pledge political allegiance at the

Imperial court- Security: Other East Asian countries had to perform military service in

overseas expeditions- Japan, as an island country, could maintain indifference at times- However, it was drawn to the economic, political and security benefits of

associating with China- At times Japan sought to challenge the Chinese order (e.g. by defiant

withdrawal and isolation)

Regional and Global OrdersImperial World Order- Acquisition of East Asian colonies led to the fracture of

the Chinese and East Asian world and regional orders- Arrival of Western technology and military in the mid

19th century brough imposition of hierarchy- Initially Japan tried to resist, but realised that needed to

modernize country along Western lines- By the end of the 19th century, Japan had undergone

rapid industrialisation and built up strong naval and land forces

- Victory in Sino-Japanese War (1894-5)- Signing of Anglo-Japanese alliance in 1902- Victory in Russo-Japanese War (1904-5)

Regional and Global OrdersImperial World Order- Even after collapse of the Chinese World Order, Japan

continued to form a part of an East Asian regional order geographically, racially and culturally

- Was still discriminated against (e.g. by League of National)- As a result, Japanese policy makers viewed international

institutions and other major industrialised powers as biased against them

- The early-starters were keeping Japan from expansion- Japan signed Tripartite Pact in September 1940, allying with

Germany and Italy- Constructed a new regional order centered on itself

(conquest of colonial possessions in SE Asia), this was undone by defeat in the Pacific War

Regional and Global OrdersCold War Order- Characterised by confrontation between the US and the USSR,

and their respective economic, political and security alliance systems

- Japan was now once again a minor power- Aligned with the US (1951 peace treaty)- The basic patter of Japan’s international relations in the

immediate post-war years would be to concentrate upon the task of national rebuilding whilst seeking economic, political and security guarantees from the US (Yoshida Doctrine)

- Reliance upon the US export market- Relative economic isolation from communist economies of East

Asia- Firm Japanese resistance to direct involvement in the US’s wars

in Korea and Vietnam

Regional and Global OrdersPost- Cold War Period- Is there are newly emerging order?- Japan continues to act as a supporter of the US- At the same time, the US often enables Japanese policy

makers to forge ahead with new policies in response to changes in the structure of the international system

- Japan has exploited the freedom afforded by the end of the Cold War order to open up new multilateral relations with Europe and East Asia, and to adopt a more pronounced role in global institutions

- Japanese TNCs are playing an increased role in the regionalisation of East Asian economics

Q1. How have different regional and global orders impacted on Japan’s international relations in different periods? Have policy-makers been constraint by these orders? If so, why? If not, why not?

Q2. What is the dominant pattern of Japan’s international relations from the late nineteenth century onwards? What problems have been faced by Japan as a ‘late comer’ and how and why has it sought to overcome them?

Some examples of dominant historical patterns of Japan’s international relations…

- Withdraw into isolation- Sought global hegemony- Displayed a pattern of international behaviour

seemingly designed to achieve integration of and dominance over the East Asia region

- Gravitation towards support for the major power at the time

Some problems that Japan has faced as a ‘late comer’…- Unequal treaties imposed on Japan by Western powers- Not treated equally: participation on the Allied side in World War I

(1914-18), but received unfavourable treatment at the Paris Peace Conference (1919)

- Rejection of Japanese proposal for the insertion in the League of Nations (formed 1919 at the PPC) of a clause on the racial equality of nations. Japan withdrew from the League in 1934 over the Manchurian incident.

- Membership in Western camp during the bipolar Cold War meant limited relations with communist states

- Post-Cold War Japan is constraint by a desire to maintain close relationship with US in the war on terror.

- Ultimate bending under US pressure not to pursue oil development in Iran

• Q3. What examples can you give of Japan’s proactive foreign policy? What about reactive policy? What accounts for the difference? (in each situation?)

Some examples to consider:- Aligning with China- Aligning with the UK- Aligning with Germany and Italy- Aligning with the US- Signing the 1951 peace treaty- 1960 treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security- Anti-terrorism- Human Security- FDI/ODA- Japanese trade investment in East Asia- ‘Chequebook diplomacy’- Antimilitarism- Joining UN/G7/G8/G20/ASEAN etc

• Q4. Why has Japan developed the specific policies it has pursued? Have they been successful? If so, why? If not, why not?

For next week come prepared with (at least!) one example of a policy in relation to the above question