Japan's China Policy: A Relational Power Analysis(European Institute of Japanese Studies East Asian Economics and Business Series)

Japan's China Policy understands Japan's foreign policy in terms of power - one of the most central concepts of political analysis. It contributes a fresh understanding to the subject by developing relational power as an analytical framework and by applying it to significant issues in Japan's China policy: the negotiations for a bilateral investment protection treaty and the disputed Pinnacle (Senkaku/Diaoyu) Islands. Hagström demonstrates that Japan exerted power over China in such divergent empirical settings for the most part by using civilian instruments positively, defensively and through non-action. Given that Japan's foreign policy is often portrayed rather enigmatically in terms of power, the unique contribution of Japan's China Policy is to demonstrate how to analyze power aspects of Japan's foreign policy in a more coherent fashion. This revealing approach to Japan's foreign policy will be of huge interest to anyone studying Japanese politics, foreign policy or international relations.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction: Enigmatic Power?  2. Conceptual and Analytical Framework: Relational Power  3. Empirical Focus: Japan's China Policy  4. Case 1: Negotiating Investment Protection  5. Case 2: Interaction over the Pinnacle Islands  6. Conclusions and Reflections: Intelligible Power  Reference List

About the Author :
Linus Hagström is a Research Fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Sweden.

Review :
'The micro-approaches behind "Japan's China Policy" demonstrate in admirable scholarly detail how officials in Tokyo have been able to get their own way with Beijing on occasion.' - Japantoday.com 'This highly specialised study provides a substantial level of detail based on primary data sources. It will be of use to those researchers concerned with Japanese foreign policy-making, the empirical application of IR concepts or East Asian international relations.' - Joseph O'Mahoney, University of Kent, UK 'This highly specialised study provides a substantial level of detail based on primary data sources. It will be of use to those researchers concerned with Japanese foreign policy-making, the empirical application of IR concepts or East Asian international relations.' - Japan Forum 'In sum, this book is a timely addition to the existing scholarship on Japanese foreign policy. It is ideal for a recommended reading list, particularly for graduate seminars, and a worthwhile read for scholars in the field of Japanese foreign policy and East Asian international relations.' - Japanese Journal of Political Science 'This book should be of interest to academics, students, and policymakers and deserves to be read widely.' - Asian Studies