Normalizing Japan: Politics, Identity, and the Evolution of Security Practice(Studies in Asian Security)

Normalizing Japan seeks to answer the question of what future direction Japan's military policies are likely to take, by considering how policy has evolved since World War II, and what factors shaped this evolution. It argues that Japanese security policy has not changed as much in recent years as many believe, and that future change also will be highly constrained by Japan's long-standing "security identity," the central principle guiding Japanese policy over the past half-century. Oros' analysis is based on detailed exploration of three cases of policy evolution-restrictions on arms exports, the military use of outer space, and cooperation with the United States on missile defense-which shed light on other cases of policy change, such as Japan's deployment of its military to Iraq and elsewhere and its recent creation of a Ministry of Defense. More broadly, the book refines how "ideational" factors interact with domestic politics and international changes to create policy change.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS List of Tables List of Appendices List of Acronyms Preface Introduction A Shifting Wind in Japan Today? The Argument in Brief Defining Security Identity Methods, Cases, and Evidence: Measuring Security Identity and Policy Shift 1. Security Identity and the Evolution of Security Practice: Explaining Policy Change Explaining Policy Change Security Identities and Security Practice: Towards a General Framework Structuring Japan's Security Practice: Explaining Continuity and Change Complementary and Contending Explanations for Japanese Security Practice 2. Negotiating and Institutionalizing a New Postwar Security Identity Competing Visions for Postwar Japan Facing a New Postwar Environment at Home and Abroad Early Party Politics Surrounding Japan's Future International Role Creating a New Armed Forces and a New Security Identity Domestic Antimilitarism and the U.S.-Japan Alliance Cold War Security Politics under the Hegemony of Domestic Antimilitarism 3. Reaffirming Core Principles in a "Lost Decade", 1989-1998 Confronting a New International and Domestic Environment Adapting to New Challenges and Reaffirming Core Principles Looking Forward, Looking Backward 4. Limiting Conflict through Arms Export Restrictions The External Origins of the Arms Export Ban, 1945-1952 The Post-Occupation Policy of Restricted Arms Exports, 1952-1964 Institutionalizing Arms Export Restrictions, 1965-1979 New Challenges to Arms Export Restrictions, 1980-1989 The Limited Post-Cold War Evolution of Arms Export Restrictions Conclusions: Security Identity and Evolving Arms Export Restrictions 5. The Next Frontier: Keeping Outer Space "Peaceful" International and Alliance Politics in Japan's Early Outer Space Policy Domestic Political Issues Raised by Possible Japanese Activities in Outer Space Growing Enthusiasm for Outer Space Activities Identity Shift? The Decision to Deploy Surveillance Satellites Conclusions: Security Identity and Evolving Use of Outer Space 6. Missile Defense, Alliance Politics, and Security Identity U.S.-Japan Cooperation on Missile Defense: Past, Present...and Future? Contending Explanations for Japan's Missile Defense Policy External Actors, Missile Defense, and the Evolution of Japan's Security Identity Missile Defense and the Politics of Security Identity Looking Forward: Missile Defense and Japan's Evolving Security Practice 7. Japan's Security Identity and Security Practice in a New Century Moves Beyond the "Three Rs" of Japanese Security Policymaking A Resilient Security Identity in Post-Taepodong and Post 9/11 Japan Conceptualizing Change in Japan's Security Future (Re)producing A 21st Century Security Identity In Conclusion Appendices Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Andrew Oros is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Washington College. He is the Editor, with Yuki Tatsumi, of Japan's New Defense Establishment: Institutions, Capabilities, and Implications (Stimson Center, 2007).

Review :
"Andrew Oros' contribution to constructivist literature through his challenging of realist theories of international relations and rationalist understandings of domestic politics combine to make Normalizing Japan an important addition to international relations and comparative politics scholarship ... In sum, the value of this book is twofold. The first lies in its empirical richness and description of compromises reached among domestic and international actors, while the second reflects its contribution to constructivist theory through charting the institutionalisation and evolution of Japan's security identity." - Christopher K. Lamont, Political Studies Review "Normalizing Japan definitely moves the scholarly debate forward and provides useful analytical tools for anyone trying to disentangle rhetoric from reality in Japanese security policy." - Michael J. Green, Journal of Japanese Studies "It is clear that a tremendous amount of hard work and research went into the creation of this book ... Credit must be given to Oros for writing a book that is completely borderless with respect to sources, whether text or interviews; he represents a new breed of Japan specialists who operate with equal facility in Japan and in their own countries ... This book should be required reading for current and aspiring Japan specialist in the arena of politics and security." - Tosh Minohara, Journal of Asian Studies "A model of academic research Normalizing Japan is enhanced with seven major appendices, extensive notes, a 29-page bibliography, and a comprehensive index, making it an invaluable and strongly recommended addition to academic library Contemporary International Studies reference collections in general, and Japanese Governmental Studies reading lists in particular." - The Midwest Book Review "This thoughtful, carefully argued study challenges the many Chicken Littles who warn that Japan is ready to break free of its post-war constraints." - Leonard Schoppa, University of Virginia