Japan's Asia Policy: Regional Security and Global Interests / Edition 1

by Wolf Mendl

Overview

This volume provides a timely and expert analysis of Japan's Asia policy as the country continues to address the future through trying to cope with the burden of a chequered past. Dr Mendl locates his expostion of Japan's policy towards both North-East and South-East Asia in a full historical and cultural context and importantly takes due account of the underlying and potent factor of national identity in shaping international outlook. He begins his study with a discussion of the enigma of Japanese policy expressed in debate over whether or not that policy expresses a calculated grand design. A corresponding enigma emerges in Dr Mendl's exposition of Japan's policy towards a part of the world with which it shares a geographical location and a measure of identity but one which, he maintains, cannot be separated from its engagement at the global level. In exploring the theme of how Japan is confronted by the problem of reconcling its relations with Asia with pursuing a global role in unchartered post-Cold War waters, Dr.Mendl makes a lucid and scholarly contribution to the debate about Japan's place in a world which it has helped to shape through its economic performance and example.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415096485
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/28/1995
Series:	Politics in Asia , #10
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Wolf Mendl is Emeritus Reader in War Studies at the University of London. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Programme of the Royal Institute of International Affairs

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 2 The historical dimension of Japan’s Asia policy 3 The breakdown of the post-war international system and its impact on Japan’s Asia policy 4 Regional interests and policy in North-East Asia 5 Regional interests and policy in South-East Asia 6 Regional policy in the global context 7 Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

More than a post-WWII encapsulation, the history presented starts in 1603 and follows Japan's policy toward the rest of Asia through two stages of modernization, the breakdown of the post-war economic order, the collapse of the Cold War structures, and into the modern era. After examining Japan's relations with ASEAN, Vietnam and Indochina, Mendl (war studies, U. London) closes with a discussion of Japan's options in the current state of flux in world affairs. His foreword to this paperback edition addresses some of the dramatic events that have taken place since the hardback edition was published in 1995. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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