Current Japanese Security Policy towards China and Neoclassical Realism: Testing IR Theories

Clifton W. Sherrill and Richard A. Hough

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2015, vol. 2, issue 3, 237-265

Abstract: This article examines various theoretical viewpoints, assessing their success in explaining Japan’s current security policy towards China. With a variety of theoretically salient factors in place, including a dynamic balance of power, extant regional institutions, economic interdependence and a highly publicized pacifist identity, Japan’s China policy presents a prime opportunity to test different international relations theories. We review four theories of interest, structural realism, neoliberal institutionalism, liberal interdependence and constructivism, finding limited support for structural realist and constructivist predictions. We then offer a neoclassical realist model, building from a realist foundation but accounting for the influence of state structure, strategic culture and parochial interests of governing elites.

Keywords: International relations theory; neoclassical realism; Japanese security policy; structural realism; liberal interdependence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2347797015601912 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:asseca:v:2:y:2015:i:3:p:237-265

DOI: 10.1177/2347797015601912

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().