Post-War Japanese Security Policies: Analysis based on Defensive Realism with A Case Study on Japanese Nuclear Weapon Policies
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Chun-Jung Wu, Devin
Abstract
This thesis intends to study the security policies of Japan since the Second World War, and argue that defensive realism has the strongest explanatory power on these policies, against neo-realism and constructivism. In time sequence, an overview of all the major historical events since WWII that have impacts on the security environment of Japan and the subsequent changes on Japan’s security policies constitutes the first part of the thesis, and points out that both the Vietnam War and the Cold War have played significant roles in shaping Japanese security policies after WWII, with the Vietnam War triggering the consolidation of military power of the Japanese Self-Defense Force and the Cold War marking the change of source of the major threat to Japan. Through the historical review, it is not difficult to find out that Japan has constantly been surrounded by threats, even though it is an island-state like the United Kingdom: first by the Russian forces on its borders, and now with the potential dangers imposed by China and North Korea. The thesis then realizes the insufficiency in the research of the link between international relation theories and Japanese security policies, with emphasis on the contradiction between the viewpoints of the different international relation theories. This thesis then, based on this finding, sorts out the previous research works that use defensive realism to study the security policies of Japan, and at the same time, points out that the emergence of neo-classical realism has created new variants of defensive realism. Understanding the subject of research of this thesis is one single country, Japan, instead of the whole international environment, this thesis makes use of the variants of defensive realism that roots in neo-classical realism, namely balance-of-threat theory and offensive-defensive theory, to study and analyze the security policies of Japan since WWII, and proves the explanatory power of defensive realism. Lastly, Japan’s nuclear and missile defence policies are thoroughly studied as a case study to again prove the explanatory power of defensive realism.
Japan surrenders its right to wage war and own a war-fighting military force in its post-war constitution, but the Americans have requested Japan to re-arm under the shadow of the Korean War. In response to the growing military threat from Soviet Russia and the withdrawal of American forces in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Japan has greatly enhanced its military ability both in quantity and in quality. This certainly contradicts with the contentions of the constructivists. However, being an economical giant, Japan has never abandoned its alliance with the U.S., and its determination in maintaining the alliance has also proven neo-realist’s “Japan to balance the U.S.” hypothesis to be flawed. These two are the two most commonly applied international relation theories in explaining the post-WWII Japanese security policies, yet their arguments are both inperfect. In comparison, however, balance-of-threat theory of the defensive realism school accurately explains Japan’s preference in post-war alliance formation, while the offensive-defensive theory explains why Japan may develop its military capability and yet avoid to be trapped in a security dilemma.
The Japanese policy on nuclear weapons and missile defense further proves the explanatory power of defensive realism on the post-WWII security policies of Japan. Japan has long been under nuclear threats from its neighbors: first with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and later with a quickly modernizing China and the irrational North Korea. Yet, Japan has not developed an independent nuclear force, as predicted by neo-realists, not has it totally abandoned nuclear weapons based on moral grounds, as advocated by many constructivists. Official documents, public statements by government officials and official policies have obviously include “threat” as a factor of consideration, and disposed missile defence systems in accordance to the U.S.-Japan alliance.
In short, supported by the results from the discussion of the different international relation theories and the analysis of the case study, defensive realism truly has a strong explanatory power towards the post-WWII security policies of Japan, and can be a convincing reference in predicting future Japanese security policies.
Subjects
Japan
Japanese Security Policies
Japanese Nuclear Policies
Missile Defense
Defensive Realism
Type
thesis
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