US Unipolarity and the US–Japan Alliance

Abstract

Japan has made its alliance with the United States the main axis of its national security. Yet, now that the Cold War is over and Russia – no longer the most serious threat facing the United States – has become one of Washington’s most important allies, there is concern that the United States may begin to drift in the direction of hollowing out and even scrapping its alliance with Japan.¹ Since 1952, the Japanese government has been gripped with the fear that Japan might be discarded by the United States were it to ignore Washington’s preferences.