Dr. Machya Astuti Dewi, M.Si.

Machdewi@Yahoo.com

Description
Japan is a country with unique characteristics.
Being defeated in World War II, Japan soon built
their economic infrastructure and became the
rising power early in the 1980s. Japan steadily
develops their global role extending the
economic realism they have taken on since the
late
1950s
through
bilateral
payment
reparation to Southeast Asian countries. The
course tries to see the development of Japans
involvement in global stage in their foreign
policys continuity and change.

The course is mainly divided into two structure.

The first one deals with a historical background of
Japans foreign policy and some pressing issues
pertaining to Japans global interest. The second
one deals with case-based studies on Japans
foreign policy to countries, with special reference
to Asian ones.
After completing the course students are expected
to be able to understand the nature of Japanese
foreign policy and to explain how Japan interacts
with countries within/out the region as well as with
non-state actors, to deal with worldwide challenge.

Prescribed Texts
Essential readings are drawn from variety of

sources, including books and journals articles.

Readings will be provided in each class.
Some electronic sources accessible for
additional readings:
- Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese
Studies.
- Gaiko Forum.
- Silk Road Working Papers.
- Etc.

Requirements
In general, students are personally responsible for

attendance at classes and for submission of works.

11 times of attendance is a must for each student
to get the final score.
Individually, participant is urged to take active
participation in class discussion.
In group, work in pair for the proposed theme and
question which will be given in weekly lecture.
Paper presentation of the working group shall be
conducted prior to the lecture.

Paper Assignment and Presentation

2-4 pages length (paper).
10-15 minutes presentation, followed by discussion.
The readings are essential (but is not limiting) to

help students answering to the given question.

No structure is needed to write paper, elaboration is
needed (in answering the question) but keeping up
the focus is also important.
Paper at least must be submitted 1 day before the
presentation.
Any difficulties regarding access to the reading shall
be informed as early as possible to the lecturer.

Outline of Assesment Task

Group presentation (20%)
Class participation (20%)
Mid exam (30%)
Final exam (30%)

Classes will normally consist of pairs working

on topics related to the set readings, followed
by class discussion and the explanation by the
lecturer.

Week 2: Characteristic of Japanese

Politics
This class introduces the Japanese form of

government, i.e. constitutional monarchy, by

familiarizing the functions performed by the
organs of government, the Japanese political
development during and after the Cold War and
the nature of Japanese bureaucracy and the
relationship between politics and economy.
Reading:
Shinichi, Kitaoka. 2002. Reform in Japanese
Foreign Affairs: Policy Review Long Overdue. Gaiko
Forum Number 167, June 2002.
http://gaikoforum.com/p3-12_kitaoka.pdf

Week 3: The Dynamics of Japans

Foreign Policy
This class introduces the main stages in Japans foreign policy

development, leading to the current one, which was preceded by

the Meiji Restoration to the launch of World War II and the
bipolarism during the Cold War.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
How do you see Japanese foreign policy at present in comparison
to the old one? Could you see the leadership role in every historical
epoch of Japans foreign relations, regionally and globally?
Readings
Drifte, Reinhard. 1990. Japans Foreign Policy, Routledge: The
Royal Institute of International Affairs. Pp 6-15.
Saaler, Sven. 2002. Pan-Asianism in Meiji and Taisho Japan: A
Preliminary Framework. DIJ Working Paper 02/4
http://www.dijtokyo.org/doc/PanAsianismusSaaler_WP.pdf

Week 4: Postwar Japans Foreign

Policy
This class introduces the main stages of Japans foreign policy

development, leading to the current one, focusing on Japans foreign

and security policy after the 2nd World War, with special reference to
Japanese aspiration to become a normal state.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
Find out how the issue of reforming Japans foreign and security
policy has been taken on by Japanese political parties immediately
after the Gulf Crises!
Readings
Martin, Craig. The Case against Revisiting Interpretation of the
Japanese Constitution. The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus, 29
May 2007. http://www.japanfocus.org/-Craig-Martin/2434
Khan, Shamshad A. Is Japan Ready to Shun the Peace Constitution?
IDSA Comment 19 May 2010
http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/IsJapanreadytoshunthePeaceConstit
ution_sakhan_190510

Week 5: Nuclear and Peacebulding

Being the only nation to have suffered nuclear attack, Japan

renounces the use of nuclear open for militaristic use. By positing

itself as a model, Japan explicates its disposition on account of
nuclear use for merely peaceful purposes.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
How does the issue of nuclear programme in Iran and India affect the
way in which foreign relations work in progress between Japan and
both countries? What is the position taken by Japan for each country?
Readings
Khan, Shamshad A. 2010. Towards Indo-Japan Nuclear Agreements:
Prospects and Challenges. IDSA Comments, 24 August 2010.
http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/TowardsIndoJapannuclearagreemen
tProspectsandChallenges_sakhan_240810.
Paul, Joshy M. 2008. India and Japan: Reluctant Idealism to Practical
Realism. South Asian Survey 15 (1): 99-119.
Takahashi, Junko, 2010. Group to Seek Nuke-Free World. Asahi
Shimbun, 25 September 2010.
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201009240205.html

Week 6: Climate Change

Since 1990s Japan has become the global power in environmental aid.

Asia is the major recipients of this aid. Through its ministeries and
agencies and through bilateral or multilateral cooperation framework
Japan has extensively proceed in the working of environmental
diplomacy.
Question for Class Discussion/seminar paper
How effective does the environmental aid work for Japans diplomacy?
Reading
Armitage, Nicole. 2009. From Crisis to Kyoto & Beyond: The Evolution
of Environmental Concern in Japanese Official Development
Assistance. In http://www.gsid.nagoyau.ac.jp/bpub/research/public/paper/article/176.pdf
.

Week 7: Human Rights, Human

Security
The class presents the incorporation of human rights and

human security issues in Japans foreign policy and how

Japan deals with its historical legacies of the same in their
foreign relations with former colonies.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
With reference to human rights and human security
concern, take one state to elaborate on how Japan
implement its foreign policy.
Reading (for the case of Myanmar/Burma)
Seekins, Donald M. 2000. Japans Burma Lovers and the
Military Regime. JIPRI Working Paper No. 60, Sept 1999.
http://www.jpri.org/publications/workingpapers/wp60.html

Week 9: Japan-North Korea

North Korea Nuke Diplomacy considerably poses a huge threat to

regional security. Apart from the USs military deployment, Japans

vehicle to tackle the problem is limited by the scope (i.e. nonmilitaristic method) and overshadowed by Japanese abduction by
North Korea.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
Do you think that the manner in which Japan deals with the North
Korea problem is right in its purpose? Try to take a different picture
by seeing the way North Koreas threat perception over its regional
neighbours.
Readings
Manyin, Mark E. 2003. Japan-North Korea Relations: Selected Issues.
CSR Report for Congress, November 26, 2003.
fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/27531.pdf
Tatsumi, Yuki. 2011. North Korea: Challenges for the US-Japan
Alliance. Washington: Stmson Center.
http://www.stimson.org/.../full_-_North_Korea_Challenge_for_the_usJapan_Alliance.pdf

Week 10: Japan-China

Chinas emerging economic growth is seen by Japan with cautious.

Despite the murky historical record between the two countries, the
building of economic cooperation has going on since the SinoJapanese normalization in 1970s.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
Do you agree that economic cooperation can actually put on the
peace process between the two countries? Do you consider the
ups and downs of this relations, with reference to the moments
when historical issues are reawakened
Readings
Xing, Yuqing. 2008. Japans Unique Economic Relations with China:
Economic Integration under Political Uncertainty. EAI Background
Brief No 10, 23 October 2008. http://eai.nus.edu.sg/BB410.pdf
Masterson, Jim. 2005. Measuring Trade Sensitivity: Explaining SinoJapanese Economic and Political Relations.
http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa_research.citation/0/
8/4/5/6/pages84562/p84562-1.php

Week 11: Japan-South Korea

Japan-South Koreas problem has been caught up over the history,

including the issue of Takeshima/Dokdo island, comfort women (jugun

ianfu) and historical textbook.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
How Japan deals with the pressing issue of Jugun ianfu in South Korea?
Readings
Park, Michelle. 2008. Defining Responsibility for Sexual Assault. Stanford
Journal of East Asian Affairs. Winter 2008: 23-32.
http://www.stanford.edu/group/sjeaa/journal81/CE3.pdf
Korea Herald/Asia News Network.6/8/10. Tokyo Expected to Face Up to
Comfort Women Issue.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Asia/Story/A1Story20100806230882.html
Soh, C. Sarah. 2001. Japans Responsibility toward Comfort Womens
Survivors. JIPRI Working Paper No 77, May 2001.
http://www.jpri.org/publications/workingpapers/wp77.html

Week 12: Japan and East Asian

Regionalism
Japans affluence has taken on many followers among Southeast Asian

countries. ASEAN has formally invited Japan to take the leading role by
the ASEAN+3 formula, but Japans reluctance triggered the pressing
discussion on the feasibility of cooperation framework in the region.
Question for Class Discussion/Seminar Paper
Will regional cooperation be met? Which factor is likely to bridge and
or hamper the East Asian cooperation?
Readings
Tanaka, Hitoshi. 2009. Japans Foreign Policy and East Asian
Regionalism. Princeton University: Japan Center for International
Exchange & Adam P. Liff.
http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/.../NEAsiaSecurityTanaka.pdf
Honghua, Men. 2007. East Asian Order Formation and Sino-Japanese
Relations. Japan Center for Economic Research.
www.jcer.or.jp/eng/pdf/Men.pdf

Week 13: Japan-Indonesia

In late 1990s, however, Japans decision to withdraw their

investment in Indonesia was perceived by Indonesians with

bitterness. Thus, the establishment of EPA in 2007 gained
less credence, but more reservation.
Question for Class Discussion
What was the reason behind Japans decision to withdraw
their investment?
Reading
Ronning, Alex. 1999. Influences by Japan on Mainland
Southeast Asia. 24 March 1999.
http://www.lehigh.edu/~rfw1/courses/1999/spring/ir163/Pap
ers/pdf/alr4.pdf

Week 14: Japanese ODA

The class tries to recap the discussion over Japanese ODA,

key instrument in Japans foreign policy. How ODA has been

being used in Japans global relations with its former
colonies in particular and with developing countries in
general.
Question for Calss discussion/Seminar Paper
How effective is the provision of ODA to improve Japans
image in East and Southeast Asian countries?
Readings
Soderberg, Marie. 2002. Changes in Japanese Foreign Aid
Policy. EIJS Working Paper No. 157, October 2002.
http://swopec.hhs.se/eijswp/papers/eijswp0157.pdf

Week 15: Japan-the UN

The UN has always been viewed by the Japanese as the embodiment of

the pacifist ideals. Japans trust and allegiance toward the UN is

stipulated in Japans foreign policy principle and translated in practices.
Question for Class Discussion
Do you think Japan deserves a permanent seat in the UN Security
Council?
Readings
Wahlin, Wilhelmina & Kaoru Natsuda. 2008. Can Japan Please Stand Up?
Japans Bid for a UNSC Permanent Seat: Pipe Dream or Viability. Japans
Inc Magazine No. 78, 3 July 2008.
http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_july_2008_japan_un-security-council
Guzzardi, Jose E & Mark J. Mullenbach. The Politics of Seeking a
Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council: An Analysis of the Case of
Japan. Midsouth Political Science Review Vol 9, 2007-2008.
http://www.arkpsa.org/MPSR%20articles/3%20Guzzardi%20and
%20Mullenbach.pdf