Kokusai Kōken: Changing Perceptions of Japan’s Status in the International Society

Abstract

AbstractIn Japan, the concept of kokusai kōken refers to positive means of international engagement that ought to be pursued by the Japanese government and the public. Rendering it literally as international contribution lacks nuance in English, while an ideological translation as contributions to the international society would be too vague in terms of its object and the underlying values. This chapter first seeks to provide a deeper understanding of kokusai kōken by tracing its genealogy. The concept emerged from a discursive framework that developed from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, through attempts to position Japan, which had grown into an economic superpower, within a hierarchical international order. Secondly, the chapter considers how the concept has justified Japan’s focus on international development based on the Japanese view of international society, with the aim to gain recognition as an economic superpower by advanced Western countries and international organizations without posing a threat to Asian countries.