Routledge Studies on the Asia-Pacific Region – serie

Shibata, Carroll and Boege address the various dimensions of the climate change–conflict nexus and shed light on the overwhelming challenges of climate change in the Pacific Islands region.This book highlights the multidimensionality of the problems: political, technical, material, and emotional and psychological. Written by experts in the field, the chapters highlight the centrality and importance of opening up a dialogue between researchers involved in the large-scale global modelling of climate change and the local actors. Both scholars and civil society actors come together in sharing about the complexities of local contexts and the conflictdriving potential of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies on the ground. The book brings together indigenous Pacific approaches with broader international debates in the climate change–security discourse. Through various accounts and perspectives, current gaps in knowledge are bridged, contributing to the development of more grounded, conflict-sensitive climate change policies, strategies, governance and adaptation measures in the Pacific region.An important resource for students, researchers, policymakers and civil society actors interested in the multi-faceted issues of climate change in the Pacific.

The Mekong River is a vital and valuable resource, with huge development potential for the six states through which it flows. Given the significant asymmetry of power between those states, however, there is a real risk that some might utilise it to the detriment of others.Without a sense of regional belonging, it is difficult to imagine that these states and their constituent communities will take regional imperatives to heart, participate in joint regulatory frameworks, or adopt behaviours for upstream-downstream and lateral cooperation over the appropriation and use of their shared resources. How effectively has closer interdependence of the Mekong countries accommodated the development of a political-social-cultural space conducive to the growth of a regional "we-ness" among not only political elites, but also the general public? The contributors to this volume approach this question from a range of directions, including the impacts of tourism, regional development programmes, the Mekong Power Grid, and Sino-US rivalry.This edited volume presents valuable insights for scholars of international relations, Asian studies, development studies, environment studies, policy studies, and human geography.

How Do Japanese Citizens Participate Politically?Most Japanese citizens, perhaps with a bit of a chuckle, would answer that ‘average’ Japanese do not participate in politics. While political attitudes in other countries have fluctuated corresponding to social, political, and economic climates of the times; in Japan, a consistently negative view of politics has persisted since the late 1960s. Japanese citizens perceive their government much more critically than citizens of neighboring countries. While many Japanese citizens participate in specific political acts such as signing candidate support cards, attending political rallies, or directly contacting politicians, they largely do not view these activities as political participation. Kida examines why this is the case; whether there is a connection between negative views of politics and how Japanese people self-identify their political participation; how Japanese citizens attempt to exact change or influence policy; how the government engages citizens in political participation; and the relationship between citizens’ attitudes towards government and levels of political participation.Kida explores political participation on the local level, to better understand the sources of political attitudes. While participation studies have been conducted in Japan, most are centered in large urban areas, focusing on either extreme forms of participation such as protests, or concentrated on single issue participation such as the environmental or women’s movements. This book, in contrast, explores what every day ‘regular’ in the system political participation looks like in a small traditional Japanese city – using Oita, a small city in Kyushu, as a case study. It focuses especially on the role local institutions and politicians play in influencing the kinds of participation available and subsequently, the attitudes created about participation.

Drawing on the work of Karl W. Deutsch, this book argues that the United States and Japan have formed their own security community, based on a sense of “collective identity.” In so doing, it provides a new theoretical outlook on co- operation between the United States and Japan, offering a fresh understanding of their bilateral relationship as one that goes beyond a mere military alliance or free trade partnership.Taking an empirical approach, Sakai analyzes three key case studies: the Persian Gulf War of 1990–1, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011. He examines how the United States and Japan interacted with one another in their discourses and behaviors in these three instances and thus demonstrates the existence of a collective identity between the two nations.

Over the course of the twentieth century, Japan has experienced a radical shift in its self-perception. After World War II, Japan embraced a peaceful and anti-militarist identity, which was based on its war-prohibiting Constitution and the foreign policy of the Yoshida doctrine. For most of the twentieth century, this identity was unusually stable. In the last couple of decades, however, Japan’s self-perception and foreign policy seem to have changed. Tokyo has conducted a number of foreign policy actions as well as symbolic internal gestures that would have been unthinkable a few decades ago and that symbolize a new and more confident Japan. Japanese politicians – including Prime Minister Abe Shinzō – have adopted a new discourse depicting pacifism as a hindrance, rather than asset, to Japan’s foreign policy. Does that mean that “Japan is back”?In order to better understand the dynamics of contemporary Japan, Kolmaš joins up the dots between national identity theory and Japanese revisionism. The book shows that while political elites and a portion of the Japanese public call for re-articulation of Japan’s peaceful identity, there are still societal and institutional forces that prevent this change from entirely materializing.

How Do Japanese Citizens Participate Politically?Most Japanese citizens, perhaps with a bit of a chuckle, would answer that ‘average’ Japanese do not participate in politics. While political attitudes in other countries have fluctuated corresponding to social, political, and economic climates of the times; in Japan, a consistently negative view of politics has persisted since the late 1960s. Japanese citizens perceive their government much more critically than citizens of neighboring countries. While many Japanese citizens participate in specific political acts such as signing candidate support cards, attending political rallies, or directly contacting politicians, they largely do not view these activities as political participation. Kida examines why this is the case; whether there is a connection between negative views of politics and how Japanese people self-identify their political participation; how Japanese citizens attempt to exact change or influence policy; how the government engages citizens in political participation; and the relationship between citizens’ attitudes towards government and levels of political participation.Kida explores political participation on the local level, to better understand the sources of political attitudes. While participation studies have been conducted in Japan, most are centered in large urban areas, focusing on either extreme forms of participation such as protests, or concentrated on single issue participation such as the environmental or women’s movements. This book, in contrast, explores what every day ‘regular’ in the system political participation looks like in a small traditional Japanese city – using Oita, a small city in Kyushu, as a case study. It focuses especially on the role local institutions and politicians play in influencing the kinds of participation available and subsequently, the attitudes created about participation.

The Mekong River is a vital and valuable resource, with huge development potential for the six states through which it flows. Given the significant asymmetry of power between those states, however, there is a real risk that some might utilise it to the detriment of others.Without a sense of regional belonging, it is difficult to imagine that these states and their constituent communities will take regional imperatives to heart, participate in joint regulatory frameworks, or adopt behaviours for upstream-downstream and lateral cooperation over the appropriation and use of their shared resources. How effectively has closer interdependence of the Mekong countries accommodated the development of a political-social-cultural space conducive to the growth of a regional "we-ness" among not only political elites, but also the general public? The contributors to this volume approach this question from a range of directions, including the impacts of tourism, regional development programmes, the Mekong Power Grid, and Sino-US rivalry.This edited volume presents valuable insights for scholars of international relations, Asian studies, development studies, environment studies, policy studies, and human geography.

Alcantara, Shinohara, and their contributors evaluate the current state of diversity and inclusion (D&I) within business and higher education in Japan, and the importance of D&I to the growth of Japan’s economy and the enrichment of its society. Japan is widely understood to be a homogenous and patriarchal society, and while this is changing and was never wholly accurate, it certainly faces challenges in becoming more diverse and inclusive, particularly in its business and higher educational cultures. Grounded in research and offering best practices, the chapters in this book analyze critical issues relating to D&I in Japan at the individual, organizational, and industry levels. They present both a longitudinal analysis of the evolution and performance outcomes of D&I policies in Japanese corporations across industries, and rich studies of different underrepresented groups in Japan. These groups include immigrants, women, and people with disabilities. The contributors prescribe policies for promoting D&I in higher education, within businesses and at the governmental level.This book is an essential contribution to D&I discourse in the Japanese context that will be of great value to scholars of Japanese society and business, and an important extended case study for those looking at D&I more widely.CC BY NC ND

Alcantara, Shinohara, and their contributors evaluate the current state of diversity and inclusion (D&I) within business and higher education in Japan, and the importance of D&I to the growth of Japan’s economy and the enrichment of its society. Japan is widely understood to be a homogenous and patriarchal society, and while this is changing and was never wholly accurate, it certainly faces challenges in becoming more diverse and inclusive, particularly in its business and higher educational cultures. Grounded in research and offering best practices, the chapters in this book analyze critical issues relating to D&I in Japan at the individual, organizational, and industry levels. They present both a longitudinal analysis of the evolution and performance outcomes of D&I policies in Japanese corporations across industries, and rich studies of different underrepresented groups in Japan. These groups include immigrants, women, and people with disabilities. The contributors prescribe policies for promoting D&I in higher education, within businesses and at the governmental level.This book is an essential contribution to D&I discourse in the Japanese context that will be of great value to scholars of Japanese society and business, and an important extended case study for those looking at D&I more widely.CC BY NC ND

Hawksley and Georgeou bring together scholars and practitioners from across the region to analyse the main effects of the first two years of the COVID pandemic in a range of case studies from Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania.The book provides a broad survey of how Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, Australia, Cambodia, Taiwan, and New Zealand attempted to manage the COVID pandemic; the challenges they faced; and how they fared. Drawing on insights from politics, economics, sociology, law, public health, education, and geography, most authors are nationals of the cases they discuss. Written in non-specialist language, ten case studies are examined, providing a useful analysis of the first two years of COVID in the Asia-Pacific from the emergence of COVID in January 2020 to the lifting of restrictions in December 2021. Chapters focus on different issues according to the scholar’s academic expertise, and a wide diversity of national pandemic experiences, challenges, and responses are showcased.An essential read for scholars and students interested in the areas of Asia-Pacific politics, sociology, and public health.Chapter 8 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Hawksley and Georgeou bring together scholars and practitioners from across the region to analyse the main effects of the first two years of the COVID pandemic in a range of case studies from Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania.The book provides a broad survey of how Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, Australia, Cambodia, Taiwan, and New Zealand attempted to manage the COVID pandemic; the challenges they faced; and how they fared. Drawing on insights from politics, economics, sociology, law, public health, education, and geography, most authors are nationals of the cases they discuss. Written in non-specialist language, ten case studies are examined, providing a useful analysis of the first two years of COVID in the Asia-Pacific from the emergence of COVID in January 2020 to the lifting of restrictions in December 2021. Chapters focus on different issues according to the scholar’s academic expertise, and a wide diversity of national pandemic experiences, challenges, and responses are showcased.An essential read for scholars and students interested in the areas of Asia-Pacific politics, sociology, and public health.Chapter 8 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Shibata, Carroll and Boege address the various dimensions of the climate change–conflict nexus and shed light on the overwhelming challenges of climate change in the Pacific Islands region.This book highlights the multidimensionality of the problems: political, technical, material, and emotional and psychological. Written by experts in the field, the chapters highlight the centrality and importance of opening up a dialogue between researchers involved in the large-scale global modelling of climate change and the local actors. Both scholars and civil society actors come together in sharing about the complexities of local contexts and the conflictdriving potential of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies on the ground. The book brings together indigenous Pacific approaches with broader international debates in the climate change–security discourse. Through various accounts and perspectives, current gaps in knowledge are bridged, contributing to the development of more grounded, conflict-sensitive climate change policies, strategies, governance and adaptation measures in the Pacific region.An important resource for students, researchers, policymakers and civil society actors interested in the multi-faceted issues of climate change in the Pacific.

Shibata and Kunz delve into the deep-seated identity factors that have perpetuated the conflict between Japan and South Korea. The enduring diplomatic and political tensions between the two nations are rooted in unresolved historical grievances and entrenched narratives of victimhood, which continue to shape their national identities. For meaningful reconciliation to take place, these divisive historical memories and narratives must be critically examined to build a stronger foundation for sustained diplomatic efforts.This book investigates the socio-psychological dynamics of competing victimhood, shedding light on the key barriers to reconciliation and exploring Japanese perspectives on intergenerational responsibility for historical injustices. Through a nuanced analysis of the complex identity conflict between Japan and South Korea, it provides valuable insights and practical guidance for policymakers, civil society leaders, and the broader public to foster dialogue, rebuild trust, and promote long-term cooperation between the two nations.An essential book for researchers and scholars of international relations, peace and conflict studies, and global studies, as well as a critical tool for policymakers and practitioners working in conflict resolution and reconciliation.

Rozman and Glosserman follow a momentous decade in the transformation of Japanese foreign policy from 2013 to 2023 that unveils Japan in a new light as a leading power more closely aligned with the United States than ever before but with distinct aspirations.The book presents a comprehensive chronology, a broad sweep of relations with regional partners, and an unprecedented look at new relations with Europe. Zeroing in on the legacy of Abe Shinzo, it pays special attention to the leadership of Kishida Fumio in response to the Biden administration, the Ukraine war, the growing alarm about China, the swings in ties to South Korea, and the hopes to be a bridge with Southeast Asia and India.It is a vital read for students of international relations in the Indo-Pacific and of Japan and advanced undergraduate courses on Japanese foreign policy, Asian regional studies and comparative international.

Rozman and Glosserman follow a momentous decade in the transformation of Japanese foreign policy from 2013 to 2023 that unveils Japan in a new light as a leading power more closely aligned with the United States than ever before but with distinct aspirations.The book presents a comprehensive chronology, a broad sweep of relations with regional partners, and an unprecedented look at new relations with Europe. Zeroing in on the legacy of Abe Shinzo, it pays special attention to the leadership of Kishida Fumio in response to the Biden administration, the Ukraine war, the growing alarm about China, the swings in ties to South Korea, and the hopes to be a bridge with Southeast Asia and India.It is a vital read for students of international relations in the Indo-Pacific and of Japan and advanced undergraduate courses on Japanese foreign policy, Asian regional studies and comparative international.

Trinidad and Chua provide invaluable insights on various dimensions and directions of 21st-century Philippines-Japan relations from Filipino and Japanese scholars. Their chapters highlight the adjustments made in the relationship as the two countries grapple with old and emerging domestic issues amid changing international contexts.The book’s multidisciplinary approach and rich empirical data provide an in-depth understanding and analysis of the two countries’ diplomatic and growing security cooperation, deepening economic ties and sociocultural exchanges, rising mobility of people, and the past’s impacts on the present.This is a comprehensive volume for international scholars and researchers interested in Japanese and Philippine studies, security studies, Southeast Asian history, and political economy, as well as those interested in migration studies, comparative politics, and sociocultural studies.

Trinidad and Chua provide invaluable insights on various dimensions and directions of 21st-century Philippines-Japan relations from Filipino and Japanese scholars. Their chapters highlight the adjustments made in the relationship as the two countries grapple with old and emerging domestic issues amid changing international contexts.The book’s multidisciplinary approach and rich empirical data provide an in-depth understanding and analysis of the two countries’ diplomatic and growing security cooperation, deepening economic ties and sociocultural exchanges, rising mobility of people, and the past’s impacts on the present.This is a comprehensive volume for international scholars and researchers interested in Japanese and Philippine studies, security studies, Southeast Asian history, and political economy, as well as those interested in migration studies, comparative politics, and sociocultural studies.

Elena Atanassova-Cornelis, Yoichiro Sato, Tom Sauer, and their contributors examine the implications of the shifts in power for the regional security order, as the longterm relative decline of the US standing in the global hierarchy of power is more pronounced than ever due to the challenges it faces from the rising China in Asia and the reviving Russia in Europe.The world is in disarray, and the balance of power is shifting, which results in enhanced tensions and wars, including on the territory of Europe. The complexity of the international order that prevails today possibly misleads us toward viewing everything in terms of a bipolar competition, as predicted by systemic-level realism. While membership of the multilateral NATO Alliance expands in Europe in light of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, China’s assertive behavior in Asia has produced numerous strategic alignments that are short of a formal alliance involving Asian states, the US, and European countries. ‘Hedging’ strategies are commonly found in Asian states’ approaches to security, working against the bifurcation of powers. Contrarily, European entries into alignments in the ‘Indo-Pacific’ have demonstrated the inseparability of security in Asia from security in Europe through the shared thread of ‘engaging the US’. Whether China defines its challenge against the US in regional or global terms also has differing implications for the evolution of the international system. This book, with contributions by Asian, European, and North American experts, provides an overview of the two regions’ differing alignment paths in comparative and inter-regional perspectives.The book is a valuable resource for academics, researchers, practitioners, and policy analysts interested in European and Asia-Pacific security, as well as international and regional security issues.

Focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, Cook, Ohle and Han investigate the escalating strategic competition between China and the US. They explore the dynamics of key regional secondary states caught in the middle, namely Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam, emphasising their crucial role as potential kingmakers in the shifting balance of power.China and the US are competing to win influence over these regional linchpins to advance their geopolitical ambitions and ultimately win the strategic competition. Elucidating a “power of the weak paradox”, this contribution examines the challenging choices faced by these secondary states as they navigate alignment pressures, which influence the trajectory of the great power strategic competition. Drawing upon a range of first-hand government sources and regional perspectives, the authors take the temperature of the China-US strategic competition, revealing the intricate influencing dynamics and perilous choices linchpins are being pushed to make that will determine the fate of the Asia-Pacific.This is a timely resource for researchers, students, scholars and politicians navigating the complex realm of international relations by providing a profound exploration of power struggles, strategic choices and the often-overlooked role of secondary states.

Karmazin, Kolmaš, and Qiao-Franco deconstruct the concept of the Indo-Pacific and offer a timely, comparative, and multidimensional exploration of the region’s international relations.Addressing fundamental academic questions regarding the viability of the Indo-Pacific as a regional conception, this book examines whether the Indo-Pacific is a true regional community or a strategic invention driven by global rivalries and geopolitical interests. Drawing on a rich blend of International Relations, Security Studies, International Political Economy, Human and Political Geography, Cultural Studies, and Area Studies, the book investigates the key thematic areas that define the region’s past, present, and future. They include a historical investigation of formation, enculturation, and demarcation of the region; colonization, decolonization, and construction of the modern state; conflicts and wars in (trans)regional settings; regional economy and development; institutions and other modes of international or transnational cooperation; and cultures, societies and identities within and across the Indo-Pacific countries.An essential read for students, scholars, and practitioners of international affairs who seek to make sense of one of the world’s most dynamic and contested regions.Chapters 2, 3 and 5 of this book are freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives (CC-BY-ND) 4.0 license.

Karmazin, Kolmaš, and Qiao-Franco deconstruct the concept of the Indo-Pacific and offer a timely, comparative, and multidimensional exploration of the region’s international relations.Addressing fundamental academic questions regarding the viability of the Indo-Pacific as a regional conception, this book examines whether the Indo-Pacific is a true regional community or a strategic invention driven by global rivalries and geopolitical interests. Drawing on a rich blend of International Relations, Security Studies, International Political Economy, Human and Political Geography, Cultural Studies, and Area Studies, the book investigates the key thematic areas that define the region’s past, present, and future. They include a historical investigation of formation, enculturation, and demarcation of the region; colonization, decolonization, and construction of the modern state; conflicts and wars in (trans)regional settings; regional economy and development; institutions and other modes of international or transnational cooperation; and cultures, societies and identities within and across the Indo-Pacific countries.An essential read for students, scholars, and practitioners of international affairs who seek to make sense of one of the world’s most dynamic and contested regions.Chapters 2, 3 and 5 of this book are freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives (CC-BY-ND) 4.0 license.

Lu examines the conditions under which China could be integrated into the US-led liberal international order through US engagement policies. This analysis operates within the broader framework of a hegemon's deliberate strategy to incorporate a rising great power into its established order and to shape the rising power’s foreign policy—a frequently overlooked dimension of China's relationship with the still largely US-led international system.Through the development of a comprehensive framework for understanding state socialization, the book demonstrates that China's integration into the liberal international order through US engagement faces fundamental structural obstacles. Rather than depending on the hegemon's ideational influence, this socialization process is primarily determined by the degree to which external ideas align with Beijing's domestic priorities and status objectives.This book is an essential reading for scholars and academics studying China’s international relations, US–China relations, Asia-Pacific politics, and global governance.

Pontbriand examines how political leaders have shaped America's most significant bilateral relationship through strategic narratives.Focusing on the Obama and Trump administrations, this book explores how US leaders perceived and narrated the relationship between information technology and interdependence, and how these narratives influenced foreign policy shifts and America's evolving relations with China. By blending international relations theory with narrative analysis, the book offers a deeper insight into how language and storytelling shape foreign policy decisions. The analysis reveals that the stories leaders tell about technology, interdependence, and American-Chinese relations significantly influence long-term strategic direction and policymaking. Through this lens, the book provides critical understanding of the discursive foundations underlying 21st-century great power politics.A valuable resource for scholars and students of international relations, international communication, strategic studies, and geopolitics as well as policymakers and professionals in the tech-security space.

Drawing on the work of Karl W. Deutsch, this book argues that the United States and Japan have formed their own security community, based on a sense of “collective identity.” In so doing, it provides a new theoretical outlook on co- operation between the United States and Japan, offering a fresh understanding of their bilateral relationship as one that goes beyond a mere military alliance or free trade partnership.Taking an empirical approach, Sakai analyzes three key case studies: the Persian Gulf War of 1990–1, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011. He examines how the United States and Japan interacted with one another in their discourses and behaviors in these three instances and thus demonstrates the existence of a collective identity between the two nations.