Climate Security and Policy Options in Japan

Climate security has been discussed in both academia and policy documents in the West. A key point that surfaces from these discussions is that the cooperation of non-military organizations is essential for effective responses to climate change-related threats. This overlaps considerably with debates on security in Japan, where the use of force is constitutionally restricted. Therefore, it is possible to localize the concept of climate security to the genealogy of Japan’s security policy that, in the 1980s and 1990s, sought a non-traditional security strategy that did not rely solely on military power in the name of “comprehensive security,” “environmental security,” and “human security.” In Japan, the perspective of climate security is rare. However, the introduction of a unique climate security concept into security policy enables the maintenance of national security and environmental conservation. Additionally, struggling with climate change alongside neighboring countries contributes to mutual confidence building and stability in international relations in Northeast Asia. To achieve this objective, we first show that climate security includes many kinds of security concerns by surveying previous studies and comparing Western countries’ climate security policies. Second, we follow the evolution of Japan’s security policy from 1980 to 2021. Finally, we review Japanese climate security policies and propose policy options.

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Conclusion

Power and International Relations ◽

10.23943/princeton/9780691170381.003.0008 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

David A. Baldwin

Keyword(s):

Social Science ◽

International Relations ◽

Power Analysis ◽

International System ◽

International Relations Theory ◽

Future Research ◽

Military Power ◽

Policy Options

The preceding chapters examined power analysis as a tool of social science and the concept of power in international relations theory from both historical and analytic perspectives. This chapter reviews the evolving role of the concept of power in international relations theories, summarizes the case for the contemporary relevance of a Dahlian approach to power analysis, and suggests guidelines for future research on the role of military power in international relations. It concludes with a consideration of the overall value of power analysis, including the clarification of policy options, understanding success and failure, understanding the role of power in the international system, and accountability.

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Reversing the Gun Sights: Transnational Civil Society Targets Land Mines

International Organization ◽

10.1162/002081898550671 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 613-644 ◽

Cited By ~ 402

Author(s):

Richard Price

Keyword(s):

Civil Society ◽

International Relations ◽

Security Policy ◽

World Politics ◽

Security Policies ◽

Land Mines ◽

Socratic Method ◽

International Norm ◽

Issue Networks ◽

Transnational Civil Society

The rise in the importance of nonstate actors in generating new norms in world politics has been documented by scholars, but the literature has focused predominantly on nonsecurity (“new”) issue areas. Conversely, although recent constructivist work in international relations has examined the security policies of states, typically it is the state that is doing the constructing of interests. I bridge these two literatures by examining the hard case of transnational civil society working through issue networks to teach state interests in security policy. I analyze the campaign by transnational civil society to generate an international norm prohibiting antipersonnel land mines and trace the effects of several techniques through which states can be said to be socialized. Through generating issues, networking, “grafting,” and using a transnational Socratic method to reverse burdens of proof, the campaign has stimulated systemic normative change through two processes: norm adoption through the conversion of persuaded moral entrepreneurs and emulation resulting from social pressures of identity.

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Legal protection of Germany's national interests in the field of environmental security: the evolution of approaches

Problems of Legality ◽

10.21564/2414-990x.154.239069 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Svitlana Muravyova

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Environmental Policy ◽

International Relations ◽

Security Policy ◽

Human Life ◽

Essential Element ◽

Legal Protection ◽

Well Being ◽

The State ◽

Peace Building

It is widely recognised that climate change is having malign effects on human life. Climate change is a global issue, but the political action necessary to address it is inevitably local and national as well as international. The security dilemma is one of the most important theoretical ideas in international relations. The content of security policy is evolving because "security" is a social structure, the content and structure of which is constantly changing depending on the transformation of existing and the emergence of new threats and challenges (climate change, destruction of the ozone layer, desertification, fresh water shortages, etc. - the list of current environmental problems in the XXI century is increasingly supplemented by new threats. Scholars, policy-makers, and activists have proposed broadening use of the concept security beyond its traditional military focus to take into account environmental threats that seriously jeopardize human well-being. This paper explores how ecological and climate problems have fundamentally changed the way we think about security. The non-physical security, diversification of threats, and the salience of identity are key effects of globalization in the security realm. These security effects translate into certain behavioral tendencies in a Germany foreign policy that have thus far not been studied in the literature. The claim that environmental factors should be integrated into the concept of security was first made in the early 1980s. In the late twentieth - early twenty-first century the concept of security has been expanded and applied to address many of the most important issues of international relations theory and security policy. Environmental issues are not only to be treated as non-military threats to the security of societies, but can also work to promote cooperation and peace-building. In modern conditions, the ability of the state system to respond to environmental hazards is criticized, and therefore fundamentally different management structures are proposed as a replacement for it. Therefore, targeted climate protection policies at the international and regional levels, as well as at the national and local levels, are needed to effectively address environmental and climate threats and challenges. Germany positions itself as a regional and world leader in the field of environmental protection and climate. The idea of caring for the environment is gradually becoming an essential element of the value system, legal culture and national identity of German society and the state, which it not only promotes both in the European Communities / European Union and beyond, but also consistently protects. Within the framework of the EU environmental policy, there is room for independent national action by the German government. This guarantees Germany a free choice of national strategies in promoting environmental policy.

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Paradiplomacy, Security Policies and City Networks: the Case of the Mercocities Citizen Security Thematic Unit

Contexto Internacional ◽

10.1590/s0102-8529.2017390300006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 569-587 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gilberto Marcos Antonio Rodrigues ◽

Thiago Mattioli

Keyword(s):

Best Practices ◽

International Relations ◽

Security Policy ◽

Authoritarian Regimes ◽

Security Policies ◽

Local Policy ◽

City Network ◽

Citizen Security ◽

The 1960S ◽

Main City

Abstract In a phenomenon known as paradiplomacy, cities are playing an increasingly important role in international relations. Through paradiplomacy, cities are co-operating internationally with other cities, and city networks have become important spaces for sharing experiences of and best practices in local public policy. Moreover, security policy is a increasingly important part of local policy-making. In Latin America, the concept of citizen security, based on a democratic and human rights approach, has developed in response to the legacy of authoritarian regimes from the 1960s to the 1980s. This article examines how security policies have been disseminated, discussed and transferred through Mercocities, the main city network in South America.

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ECONOMIC COMPONENT OF FRENCH NUCLEAR STATUS

Epistemological Studies in Philosophy Social and Political Sciences ◽

10.15421/341934 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 142-153

Author(s):

Daria Menshakova

Keyword(s):

International Relations ◽

Nuclear Power ◽

Necessary Conditions ◽

Modern World ◽

Military Power ◽

Security Strategy ◽

National Interests ◽

State Security ◽

Defence Strategy ◽

Definition Of

The article reveals the significance of the economic component of the French Republic’s nuclear status notion in the context of ensuring its security and support of military power, and especially the financial support of this concept, as one of the most effective methods of guaranteeing security and independence in the modern world. The author emphasizes the fact that in present conditions, considering growing instability and international relations turbulence, the economic component tends to be a vital requirement for the development of state nuclear safety, on the example of France. Relying on the analysis of the economic component and the definition of the French nuclear power notion, it is possible to predict and assess the main trends in the development of the state security system and its defence strategy, as well as to formulate ideas about threats and national interests. It has been argued that the economic component of nuclear status is inextricably associated not only with the formation of a state security strategy but also with the development of the image and geopolitical component of security, aimed at providing the necessary conditions for the realization of French national interests.

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Global Climate Change as a National Security Threat: American and Russian Political Practices

Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta Serija 4 Istorija Regionovedenie Mezhdunarodnye otnoshenija ◽

10.15688/jvolsu4.2021.1.10 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 107-122

Author(s):

Vladimir Nazarov ◽

◽

Dmitry Afinogenov ◽

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

National Security ◽

Global Climate Change ◽

Security Policy ◽

System Analysis ◽

Global Climate ◽

Security Policies ◽

Synthesis Methods ◽

National Security Policy ◽

The Government

Introduction. The article gives an overview of American and Russian approaches to global climate change (GCC) in the context of the national security policy. The purpose of the study is to improve the national security policy in the context of GCC using international and Russian experience. The authors make proposals for refining Russian approaches to the problem including adjustments to the Russian Federation National Security Strategy, development of a number of other strategic planning documents and new initiatives to tackle threats related to GCC on a broad multilateral basis. Methods and methodology. The system analysis methods used in the research enable to reveal general trends in the evolvement of the GCC phenomenon and to predict its growing influence on governments and civil societies. The synthesis methods help to draw general conclusions that are common for the national security policies of all nations, to reveal the complex and interdisciplinary nature of GCC and to propose improvements in the government policies in this area. Analysis. The analysis of American official documents and scientific publications shows the evolution of approaches in assessing the GCC in relation to national security policies, whereas the GCC has been regarded as a threat to U.S. and international security and stability. The authors criticize unilateralism of American official approaches to threats posed by GCC as well as the ineffectiveness of collective attempts to counter these threats. Results. The study concludes that the GCC poses a common threat to humanity and requires collective concerted actions. It is therefore proposed that the long-term national interests be adjusted adding to their list the task of preserving the nature and environment, to clarify the strategic goal-setting in this critical area and to develop a forward-looking model for cooperation between the government, civil society and wildlife.

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