An Expanded Study Of Japanese Self-Defense Forces Overseas Dispatching From The Perspective Of Identity Construction

With the promulgation of the "Peace Constitution" after the war,Japan established the status of a "peaceful country" and also formed a strong "anti-militarism norm" in Japan.For a long time,Japanese society has held a relatively negative attitude towards the Self-Defense Forces sending troops overseas.Combined with the negative perception of the Japanese society towards the Japanese Self-Defense Forces,and the breakthrough made by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in sending troops overseas since the end of the Cold War.The research question of this paper is: Under the cognition of the Japanese society to the identity of “peaceful country”,how does the Japanese political elite constantly change the perception of the Japanese society to the overseas dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces,and then promote the continuous expansion of the overseas dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces?This study focuses on the object of "Japan Self-Defense Forces Overseas Dispatch" and based on the research on “identity” and "norm" in the construction theory of international relations,and drawing on the core points of the identity construction theory of social psychology,this study builds an analysis idea with the core concepts of "status construction upgrading" and "normative degradation acceleration",and makes an in-depth analysis of the expanding phenomenon of overseas dispatch by the Japan Self-Defense Forces since the end of the cold war.This study focuses on the investigation and analysis of Japan's political elites under the recognition of the identity of a "peaceful country" and the "anti-militarism norm",driven by the strong self-demand to become a normal country and even a "military power",and promotes the continuous degradation of the original "anti-militarism norm" through the independent construction of the identity of "international peace contributors",the identity of "guardians of international security" and the identity of "guardians of the international order",and then realize the continuous expansion of Japan SDF overseas dispatch.Through the analysis of this study,we not only have a more comprehensive understanding of the overall process of Japanese SDF's overseas dispatch since the end of the Cold War,but also deeply explain the inherent logic of the expansion of Japanese SDF's overseas dispatch.On this basis,we further summarize the characteristics of the process of accelerating the expansion of troops from overseas by the Japan Self-Defense Forces,focusing on the fact that Japan's conservative political elites,wearing the cloak of "peace",want to reshape the perception of Japanese society and their status as a "peaceful country",change the security identity of "anti-militarism" formed since the war,and thus realize the strategic goal of amending the "Peace Constitution" and seeking to become a "normal country" or even a "military power".Through the above analysis of this study,it is concluded that through such continuous identity construction,the Japanese political elite not only reshapes the Japanese society's perception of the role of the Self-Defense Forces,but also enriches the functions and role of the Japan Self-Defense Forces,thus constantly changing the Japanese society's understanding and perception of the overseas dispatch of SDF,and gradually changing the Japanese society's understanding and perception of the overseas dispatch of the SDF from a negative and cautious attitude to a recognition and acceptance.It is through this process that the awareness of Japanese nationals that sending troops overseas by the Self-Defense Forces is incompatible with the status of a peaceful country has been gradually eliminated,and construct the new perception that the overseas dispatch of SDF is for "international peace and stability".The purpose is to reshape the identity of a "peaceful country" and create an “atmosphere”in which the identity of a "peaceful country" is no longer applicable to "a world full of big power games and power competition",so as to lay the foundation to continue to promote the overseas dispatch of the SDF in the future,and even lay the foundation for revising the "Peace Constitution".Finally,it cannot be ignored that the overseas dispatch of the SDF has not only had a bad impact on peace and stability in East Asia,but also seriously undermined the constitutional spirit of the "Peace Constitution",which makes the Japanese society and people who have been far away from the war step by step involved in the risk of conflict and war.