Resource localism in Japan: the making of a “have-not” country

Jin Sato

Chapter 8 in Handbook of Resource Nationalism, 2026, pp 125-137 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Japan has long portrayed itself as a “have-not” country, lacking sufficient domestic resources to sustain and grow its economy. This chapter argues that resource localism represents a Japanese variant of resource nationalism, driven by international tensions and uncertainties surrounding resource supply, such as the oil shock in the 1970s, that manifests at sub-national levels. Rather than passively reacting to global stimuli, resource localism also serves as a proactive response to pollution incidents resulting from resource mismanagement in the 1960s and 1970s. In this context, resource localism diverges from the aspiration for self-sufficiency at the local level; it is more accurately described as a claim to rightful access to resources in opposition to various external authorities that control those resources. Resource localism and resource internationalism have both significantly shaped the intensity of resource nationalism in a dialectical manner. Understanding one without the other overlooks a critical dimension of resource politics in Japan.

Keywords: Japan; Resource Localism; History; Have-Not Country; Pollution; Nuclear Power (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035333431
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