Japanese Politics and Policy in the 21st Century
a panel discussion presented by The Sasakawa Peace Foundation and Social Science Research Council Young Japanese Specialists US-Visit Program in collaboration with
Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Featuring:
• Dr. Jarrod Hayes (INTA) as panel chair
• Dr. Brian Woodall (INTA) as panel discussant
• Professor Toshihiro Nakayama (Aoyama Gakuin University), opening comments
• Dr. Madoka Fukuda (Hosei University), speaking on Japan’s policy toward Cross-Strait
Relations
Summary: The rise of China has raised the level of tension throughout Northeast Asia, intensifying competition
between China and Japan. Taiwan is often seen as caught between the two, pressured on the one hand by China for closer relations, and lured by shared interests with Japan on the other. This presentation will analyze the current state of Japan-Taiwan relations, explaining why relations have continued to develop despite Chinese pressure and the improvement of cross-straits relations with China. I argue that the most important factors in the continued development of close Japan-Taiwan relations—despite friction over historical and territorial
issues—are the shared liberal and democratic values of the two societies.
• Dr. Chihiro Okawa (Kanagawa University), speaking on Party Politics and Policy
Change in Japan Summary: Japanese politics has been rocked by major political changes over the last decade, including the reform policies under Prime Minister Koizumi, the subsequent weakening of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the birth of a government under the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, and the recent return to power of the LDP. The dramatic changes of this first decade of the 21st century also reflected major changes in the policy
positions and governing theories of major politicians in both parties. This presentation will use data from the joint University of Tokyo-Asahi Survey to analyze the changing political positions of leading politicians and the major political parties.
Friday, March 14th from 12-1:30, Bill Moore Success Center Presidential Suite C
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Janelle Knox-Hayes: Janelle.Knox@pubpolicy.gatech.edu