The evolution of Japan's pacifist identity vis-à-vis China and South Korea

Details

Supervisors

Atanassova, Elena

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences politiques, orientation relations internationales, à finalité spécialisée: diplomatie et résolution des conflits

Abstract

After Japan's defeat in World War II, a demilitarization and democratization process was initiated under the supervision of the United States. Stepping away from its militaristic regime, Japan adopted values and legal frameworks that built a pacifist identity, most notably embodied in Article 9 of its “Peace Constitution.” However, after the Cold War, Japan started to reform the legislations that institutionalized its pacifism and even allowed the right to collective self-defense in 2015. These reforms raised the debate on a shift in Japan's pacifist identity since the policies reproducing it were changing. Therefore, this thesis studies Japan's shifting pacifism in relation to China and South Korea. The "Othering" theory asserts that identities are always constructed through a differentiation process with Others. China and South Korea represent significant Others for Japan since they share much history and their relationship has always influenced how they perceive themselves and each other.