Morii, Kazunari (2011) Japan's persistent engagement policy toward Myanmar in the post-Cold War era : a case of Japan's 'problem-driven pragmatism'. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis engages in the debates on Japan’s foreign policy objectives and direction
in the post-Cold War era by examining the case of Japan’s Myanmar policy with a
particular focus on the question as to why Japan maintained its engagement policy line,
although shifting to a more critical one, toward the Myanmar military government
which was established in 1988. This thesis employs the analytical framework of
neoclassical realism, recognizing international structure as the primary determinant of a
state’s foreign policy while at the same time shedding light on domestic level factors,
namely policy-makers’ perceptions, the government’s resource mobilization and the
domestic policy-making system as intervening variables that incorporate international
structural incentives into a state’s actual conduct of foreign policy.
In conclusion, the empirical study reveals that Japan adhered to an engagement
policy primarily because of Japanese policy-makers’ perceptions that it was the most
practical and effective policy to promote Myanmar’s political and economic
development, which would eventually contribute to regional stability and progress. This
indicates a persistent feature of Japan’s foreign policy which can be described as
‘problem-driven pragmatism’, or Japan’s behavioural pattern of taking actions in
response to concrete problems and pursuing practical problem-solving for bringing
about incremental and pragmatic improvements in the problems by making necessary
compromises with structural pressures and existing systems.
This thesis makes a distinctive contribution from three aspects: providing new
empirical evidence which fills the gap in conventional debates on Japan’s Myanmar
policy objectives; proposing ‘problem-driven pragmatism’ as a new model of Japan’s
foreign policy which addresses the shortcomings of existing arguments; and, affirming
the applicability and efficacy of neoclassical realism for foreign policy analysis with the
implication that it is necessary to examine multiple foreign policy agendas and
multi-dimensional international structure in comprehending the critical tradeoffs that a
state often faces.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	J Political Science > JQ Political institutions (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Japan -- Foreign relations -- Burma, Japan -- Government policy
Official Date:	September 2011
Dates:	Date Event September 2011 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Politics and International Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Hughes, Christopher W. ; Breslin, Shaun
Sponsors:	Japan
Extent:	xiii, 312 leaves
Language:	eng

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