Japan's Security Policy and the ASEAN Regional Forum: The Search for Multilateral Security in the Asia-Pacific(The University of Sheffield/Routledge Japanese Studies Series)

Based on primary resources, including documents and extensive interviews with Japanese policy makers, this book provides a comprehensive and detailed empirical analysis of Japan's involvement in Asia-Pacific security multilateralism after the end of the Cold War with special reference to the ARF. Giving an in-depth account of new developments in Japan's post-Cold War security policy, Yuzawa also examines: Japan's initial motivations, expectations and objectives for promoting regional security multilateralism Japan's diplomacy for achieving these objectives and experiences in the ARF since its formation the effectiveness and limitations of the ARF with regards national and Asia-Pacific security the effects of Japan's experiences in the ARF on its initial conception of regional securty multilateralism and the implications of this for the direction of its overall security policy problems and difficulties that arose as a result of Japan's post-Cold War security policy of simultaneously pursuing two different security approaches - namely the strengthening of regional security institutions and the Japan-US alliance. This book will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of Japanese security studies, as well as international relations, Asian politics and international organizations.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Japan’s Growing Interest in Asia-Pacific Security Multilateralism: The Road to the Nakayama Proposal (1989-1991) 2. The Surge of Japan’s Enthusiasm for Regional Security Multilateralism and the Formation of the ARF (1992-1993) 3. Japan's Policy on the Evolution of Confidence Building Measures in the ARF 4. Japan's Challenges for Promoting Preventive Diplomacy in the ARF 5. Japan and Multilateral Security Dialogue in the ARF (1994-1997): Security Dialogue as a Means of Reassuring, Engaging or Constraining China? 6. Japan and Multilateral Security Dialogue in the ARF (1998-2005): Eroding Confidence in Multilateral Approaches to Regional Security Issues 7. Japan's Changing Conceptions of the ARF: From an Optimistic Liberal to a Pessimistic Realist Perspective on Asia-Pacific Security Multilateralism. Conclusion

About the Author :
Takeshi Yuzawa is Research Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. His research interests include Asia-Pacific security, Japan’s foreign and security policy, International Relations Theory.