On Foreign Policy
Now
one year past, reverberations of 11 September are being felt
globally in increasingly complex ways. While the most direct
impact can be seen in the Middle East, we are beginning to see its
manifestations in various aspects of societies all over the
world.
Among them, the incident set in motion in Japan a movement of
change in foreign affairs leading recently to the historic summit
meeting with North Korea on 17 September 2002. In the era of the
new type of war, attention is again being focused on the crucial
role of diplomacy and the evolving foreign policy of
nations.
Reform in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been a subject of intense debate since last year in Japan. In this issue of Gaiko Forum, University of Tokyo professor Kitaoka Shinichi persuasively argues that the careful review of the nations foreign affairs strategies and the revision of its foreign policies is the prerequisite for the reform of diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The International Conference on the Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan successfully held in Tokyo, the highlight of Japanese diplomacy early this year, was followed up by a fact-finding mission that visited Afghanistan in March. In this issue foreign affairs consultant Okamoto Yukio, a warm, though at times critical supporter of the Japan-U.S. alliance, reports on the activities of the Japanese Self-Defense Force ships operating in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S. anti-terrorist activities in Afghanistan. From his experience on the front lines of Japanese diplomacy, former vice foreign minister Nogami Yoshiji offers hints about how Japan can meaningfully contribute to the challenges posed by the Middle East peace process.
With this issue, the English edition of Gaiko Forum will begin to appear on a quarterly schedule. To mark this ambitious endeavor, we include a cogently argued essay on imperialism and international cooperation in U.S. foreign policy contributed by Colorado College professor David Hendrickson.
Gaiko Forum will be pleased to consider manuscripts for publication in this English edition, as in its Japanese edition, from now on as well. We look forward to your comments and contributions.
Ito Misako
get
Acrobat
Reader
Reform
in Japanese Foreign Affairs:Policy Review Long Overdue/Kitaoka
Shinichi
The prime minister holds ultimate responsibility for foreign policy. The minister of foreign affairs is the most important member of the administrations diplomatic team. The task now is to demonstrate that it has a clear chain of diplomatic command.
Across to the Indian Ocean:Japanese Aid to Afghanistan/Okamoto Yukio
Why is Japan, with its economy on the rocks, promising to contribute 500 million dollars in assistance for the reconstruction of Afghanistan in the coming two and a half years? Why did Japan send SDF ships to the Indian Ocean? To protect freedom and justice? For the sake of the Japan-U.S.alliance? No, these are means for Japan to act with integrity as a member of international society.
Has
the Tunnel Collapsed?Thoughts on the Middle East Peace
Process/Nogami Yoshiji
The path toward peace in the Middle East has been a long tunnel badly shaken by suicide bombings and retaliatory strikes. Japan's contribution to resolving the situation must take a different form than that of the United States. Tackling concrete problems close to the daily lives of the people like water Japan has the technology and funds to help shore up the tunnel.
Imperialism
Versus Internationalism:The United States and World Order/David C.
Hendrickson
The George W. Bush administration is about to make war on Iraq again. What happened to the United States that spurned isolationism and imperialism, and worked in partnership with nations of the free world in the fight against totalitarianism? The United States should return to the kind of power that wields genuine justice.
Toward Global Sharing:Proposals for Concrete Action at Johannesburg/Sobashima Hidenobu
Japan sent its prime minister to the summit meetings on sustainable development in Johannesburg. The Koizumi Initiative� proposed emphasis on the key issues of education and human resources development. Guiding these initiatives to reality is the important challenge from now on.