New [(Date changed!) 6/5 SSRI Open Lecture] Overcoming Isolationism: Japan´s Leadership in East Asian Security Multilateralism

Overcoming Isolationism: Japan´s Leadership in East Asian Security Multilateralism

Speaker: Prof. Paul Midford (Meiji Gakuin University, Department of Global and Transcultural Studies)

Abstract

This presentation asks why, in the wake of the Cold War, Japan suddenly reversed years of steadfast opposition to security cooperation with its neighbors. Long isolated and opposed to multilateral agreements, Japan proposed East Asia’s first multilateral security forum in 1991, thrusting itself into an unexpected leadership role in regional security. Based on his recent book Overcoming Isolationism, Midford explores what led to this surprising about-face and offers a corrective to the common misconception that Japan’s security strategy is just reactive to US pressure and unresponsive to its neighbors. He draws on newly released official documents and extensive interviews to reveal a quarter century of Japanese leadership in promoting regional security cooperation. He demonstrates that Japan has a much more nuanced relationship with its neighbors and has played a more significant leadership role in shaping East Asian security than has previously been recognized.

Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 (Changed!)

Time: 13:50 - 15:00 (JST)

Venue: Science Hall E302

Language: English

Registration: Please use the QR code or Link (except for the IRL221 students).