Seminar Abstract

What is Japan’s security policy? And where is Japan headed? Japan’s security policy has traditionally focused almost exclusively on the defense of its homeland — the exclusively defense oriented strategy. This is based on the pacifist constitution of Japan, which has never been changed since its inception in 1946. But, will this continue? Japan, under Prime Minister Abe, has implemented several changes in its security policies. How much has Japan’s security policy changed and what are the prospects of further change? The talk will ask Japan’s future role in the region: will it continue to be a pacifist isolationist or a proactive internationalist?

About the Speaker

Dr. Chikako Kawakatsu Ueki is Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS), Waseda University. She teaches “International Security” and “International Relations and Security in East Asia.” Her areas of expertise include causes and prevention of war and East Asian international relations with a special focus on U.S.-Japan-China relations. She has written extensively on issues concerning threat perception in a unipolar world, transformation of international relations after the Cold War, and issues relating to security problems in East Asia. Her publications include: War Studies for Peace (Heiwa no tame no Sensoron) (2015); The Long Peace in North East Asia: War Avoided (Hokuto Ajia no Nagai Heiwa) (2012); and The U.S.-Japan Security Alliance: Regional Multilateralism (2011).

 Prior to joining GSAPS, Dr. Ueki was Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Defense Studies — the main research arm of the Japan Ministry of Defense, Visiting Scholar at Peking University, and Staff Writer for Asahi Shimbun. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and M.A. in International Relations and B.A. in French Studies from Sophia University.

 Dr. Ueki served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Security and Defense Capabilities (2009). She was member of the Mansfield Committee on U.S.-Japan relations (2010-2011); and has been a Research Affiliate at Security Studies Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2012-2015).