Japan’s Peacekeeping at a Crossroads

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxv

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2. Introduction: The Pursuit of “Integration” and “Robustness” in Japan’s Peacekeeping Policy

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 1-19Open Access

3. The Historical Background to Japan’s Peacekeeping Policy from the Early Postwar Era to the Establishment of the PKO Act 1945–1992

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 21-38Open Access

4. The Evolution of Japan’s Peacekeeping Policy 1992–2012

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 39-60Open Access

5. Recent Developments in Japan’s International Peace Cooperation Under the Second Abe Government 2012–2020

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 61-83Open Access

6. Cambodia: Japan’s First UNPKO Contribution

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 85-102Open Access

7. East Timor: Adapting to “Integration” and Responding to “Robustness”

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 103-122Open Access

8. Haiti: The Development of “Seamless” Assistance from Disaster Relief to UNPKOs

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 123-139Open Access

9. South Sudan: The SDF and “Protection of Civilians”

   • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

   Pages 141-164Open Access

10. Conclusion: Japan’s Search for a New Direction in Peacekeeping

    • Hiromi Nagata Fujishige, Yuji Uesugi, Tomoaki Honda

    Pages 165-187Open Access

11. Back Matter

    Pages 189-236

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This open access book examines why Japan discontinued its quarter-century history of troop contribution to UN Peacekeeping Operations (1992–2017). Japan had deployed its troops as UN peacekeepers since 1992, albeit under a constitutional limit on weapons use. Japan’s peacekeepers began to focus on engineering work as its strength, while also trying to relax the constraints on weapons use, although to a minimal extent. In 2017, however, Japan suddenly withdrew its engineering corps from South Sudan, and has contributed no troops since then. Why? The book argues that Japan could not match the increasing “robustness” of recent peacekeeping operations and has begun to seek a new direction, such as capacity-building support. 

• Open Access
• Japanese studies
• peacekeeping
• peacebuilding
• security policy
• United Nations
• Japanese foreign policy
• SDG 16
• sustainable development goals
• peace operations
• Japan’s contribution to global peace

“This carefully researched book offers fascinating insights into three puzzles: why Japanese governments expanded their contributions to UN peacekeeping since the early 1990s; why Tokyo withdrew its military engineers from South Sudan in 2017; and what this means for future (limited) Japanese engagement in UN and other peace operations.” (Stephen Baranyi, University of Ottawa, Canada)

“This book is the most comprehensive review to date of Japan’s post-Cold War peacekeeping history. It explains how Japan’s post-war constitution, and the tensions between its domestic and international politics influenced its peacekeeping policy. It should be essential reading for everyone who wants to understand Japan’s contribution to UN peacekeeping.” (Cedric de Coning, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Norway)

“Japan’s Peacekeeping at a Crossroads is a timely examination of the trajectory of Japanese contributions in this area of global security. The volume analyses Japan’s changing international strategic and domestic motivations to engage in peacekeeping. It takes a fresh and critical approach and fills an important gap in the extant literature.” (Christopher W. Hughes, University of Warwick, UK)

• Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan

  Hiromi Nagata Fujishige

• Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

  Yuji Uesugi

• Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan

  Tomoaki Honda

Hiromi Nagata Fujishige is Associate Professor in the School of International Politics, Economics and Communications at Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan. 

Yuji Uesugi is Professor of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding in the School of International Liberal Studies and the Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. 

Tomoaki Honda is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan.