Paper short abstract:

By examining National Diet debates, this paper analyzes the narrative of "shared values" with Japan's international allies, a narrative that has come to constitute a hallmark of Japan’s diplomacy but is applied selectively, as is illustrated by Japan’s deteriorated relations with South Korea.

Paper long abstract:

During the government of Shinzo Abe, there was new life given to narratives of shared values around democratic norms between Japan and countries like the United States, India, and Australia, as well as the European Union. These culturally and politically distinct countries made, and still make, summit statements about their shared commitments to democracy, the rule of law and human rights; tie strategic partnership agreements affirming their likemindedness; and engage in new security cooperation frameworks based in notions of similarities in values, and to defend democratic norms. In other instances, shared values are increasingly toned down, as in the souring relationship between Japan and South Korea. This raises the question of what motivates Japan’s leaders to promote national narratives of shared values on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law and how to understand them. This paper will unpack these narratives during the government of Shinzo Abe (2012-2000) vis-á-vis the other countries in the “Quad”: Australia, India, and the United States; the EU; and South Korea. The paper will analyze debates in the National Diet during the Abe government to identify similarities and differences between the way in which ruling and opposition party MPs and government ministers talk about democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the context of alliance policy vis-á-vis the above countries. The paper will zero in on how often these concepts are officially mentioned, how they are defined and, where applicable, what the promoters of the “shared values narrative” believe needs to be done by Japan and in concert with allies to defend or advance these concepts. The paper aims to provide a piece to the puzzle of a selective use of narratives in Japan’s international relations, and contribute to a research agenda that explores the advancement of international narratives from several key advocates, among these National Diet members.

Paper short abstract:

The data economy is increasing its importance and Japan has made a great diplomatic effort to position itself among the countries that shape the regulation of electronic commerce and the flow of data. This paper will examine the Japanese concept of “Data Free Flow with Trust”.

Paper long abstract:

The data economy is increasing its importance every day. Japan has made a great diplomatic effort to position itself among the countries that will shape the future of the regulation of electronic commerce and the free flow of data. This paper will examine the possibilities of success of the Japanese concept of “Data Free Flow with Trust” (DFFT), presented by Shinzo Abe in the World Economic Forum in 2019 and reinforced through the Osaka Track in 2020 in the G20 Meeting. Japan called for international rules fit for the digital age that carefully protect sensitive data but allow productive data to flow across borders. They support free commerce but with safeguards for cybersecurity, intellectual property and privacy.

The paper will look into the role of Japan as a conveyor of the Joint Initiative at the WTO on e-commerce and also its negotiating position in its recent bilateral and multilateral treaties regarding digital trade. The approach of Japan will be compared with that of other relevant players such as China that defends data localization and forced transfers of technology and how both approaches had been reconciled in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This will be compared with other stricter treaties signed recently by Japan such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement, where the option for un unimpeded free flow of data is clear.

The question is if Japan has enough leverage to attract other Asian countries towards its position and is able to find compromises that can be interesting for other mayor players such as the EU while keeping the United States happy.

Paper short abstract:

EU and Japan as strategic partners share fundamental values and principles (democracy, human rights etc.) and pledge to co-promote them in international fora. This paper studies how these commitments materialize in the interparliamentary dialogue both in bilateral and multilateral contexts.

Paper long abstract:

Japan and the EU are strategic partners who have pledged to base their relationship on shared fundamental values and principles such as democracy, the rule of law, human rights and good governance and to promote them in international fora in cooperation. This paper analyzes how context determines and drives political diplomatic dialogue in the case of promotion of the shared values and related norms. First, the focus is on the parliamentary context of the Japan-EU dialogue. While parliamentarians are essentially domestic actors engaged in the domestic political context, paradoxically they are increasingly involved in international issues due to globalization of the national agenda as well as growing interest towards parliamentary diplomacy. Parliamentary diplomacy is distinctive from government-led state-level diplomacy as they have more flexibility to promote their own agenda as they are not official international representatives of their government. This chapter discusses the international promotion of shared values within the Japan-EP parliamentary context vis-à-vis the inter-governmental dialogue.

Second, the chapter studies how context affects the dialogue when the scope of participation changes. Thus, Japan-EP dialogue on the shared values is studied within the bilateral as well as the multilateral setting. Outside their annual bilateral meetings, Japanese parliamentarians and members of the European Parliament meet within various multilateral fora. Here the focus is on the biennial Asia-Europe parliamentary Partnership (ASEP), which brings together all Asian and European parliaments within the Asia-Europe Meeting process. Based on an analysis of the parliamentary meeting reports, this article argues that the joint promotion of shared values is challenging. While at bilateral level dialogue is easy, though mostly rhetorical, in the multilateral setting, where Japan's key Asian neighbors and trade partners are present, the difficulty of promoting the shared values together is evident. The dialogues are discussed with examples and their political and policy consequences are discussed within the wider contexts of political Asia-Europe relations.

Paper short abstract:

The present research analyses smart cities initiatives in Russia under Japanese assistance. There is joint development of two Russian cities, lead by responsible ministries from Russia and Japan. It unfolds under 8 Point Cooperation Plan defining new streamline in Russo-Japanese relations.

Paper long abstract:

Russo-Japanese relationships remain unclear and affected to a great extent by the issues of contested territories. There is wide amount of scholarly literature highlighting the role of the territorial dispute and its hampering effect on the cooperation of two countries. Scholars see Southern Kuriles / Northern territories as a stumbling-block in Russia-Japan relationship shaping all the possible interactions of two countries. However, there is a new wave of active technical cooperation between two countries during at least the last five years. The cooperation is unfolding under the framework of The Eight Point Cooperation Plan (8PCP) which is dedicated to solving problems in different areas of Russian development, such as public transportation, urban development, housing and communal services, health, etc. It is referred as a will to 'combine Japanese technology with Russian wisdom', but what is this cooperation actually? One of the most prominent directions of the 8PCP is the development of smart cities in Russia under Japanese assistance. Two pilot cities, Voronezh and Vladivostok, were chosen by the working group of Russian Ministry of Construction and Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Therefore, two case studies are analysed in this research to trace the experience of Japanese companies in Russia, analyse how the cooperation between two countries unfolds in specific localities. Case study approach provides deeper understanding of the cooperation covering local level of municipalities and companies as well as inter-ministry cooperation.