Japan's unusual position in the realm of international politics encapsulates a three-fold juxtaposition: both in and out of Asia, both occupied by and a close ally of the United States, and both a key trade partner and a strategic rival of China. Whilst international relations theory offers a number of ways to analyse these relations, this book instead utilizes the concept of risk to provide an innovative perspective on Japan's relations with China, North Korea and the US.
The book elucidates how risk, potential harm and harm are faced disproportionately by certain groups in society. This is demonstrated by providing an empirically rich analysis of the domestic implications of security relations with China, North Korea and the United States through the presence of US troops in Okinawa. Beginning with a theoretical discussion of risk, it goes on to demonstrate how the concept of risk adds value to the study of international relations in three senses. First, the concept helps to break down the boundaries between the international and domestic. Second, the focus on risk and the everyday directs us to ask basic questions about the costs and benefits of a security policy meant to secure the national population. Third, what implications do these two points have for governance? The question is one of governance as Japan's externally oriented security policy produces domestic insecurity shared disproportionately, not equally, as this volume makes clear.
Developing the theory of risk as a tool for understanding international relations, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of Asian politics, Japanese politics, international relations and security studies, as well as to policy makers and practitioners working in the field.
"Authored by three European scholars affiliated with the University of Sheffield's East Asia Centre, the work explores Japanese policy related to three broad security issues: China, North Korea, and US military bases in Okinawa... Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students." - C. W. Sherrill, Troy University, CHOICE
"(The book) provides an important linkage between the state and its people regarding security issues by utilizing the risk recalibration process. Thus, the idea of risk used in this book departs from previous studies on risk and treats it as 'a heuristic device to illuminate how the recalibration of risk is manifested as harm to the security of the people'... this book is an important read not only for scholars but also practitioners who deal with these issues on a day-to-day basis." - Wakana Mukai, The University of Tokyo, Japan
