The Institutional Strategic Choice Of Japan's Participation In The Construction Of The International Order After The War

This paper studies Japan’s international institution engagement strategy and choice making during its participation in the construction of international order under the context of Japan-US alliance featured with asymmetrical interdependence after WWII.The theory of interdependence,asymmetric interdependence,international institutions,state power and their combined analysis put forward that a country’s strategic pursuit of international institution is shaped by various factors such as asymmetric interdependence relationship,national strength and state’s international role.It embodies the transformation of international power structure and the shift of state power.From the perspective of interdependence theory,state actor’s interaction on international institution issues takes the form of major powers and weak states adopting different strategies to conduct competition and cooperation.This paper focuses on the relationship between Japan’s international institution engagement strategy and the asymmetric interdependence embedded in Japan-U.S.alliance.Acknowledging that the post-war international order is a result of US leadership,it points out that Japan-US alliance serves as a cornerstone of Japan’s diplomatic strategy to return to the international community and participate in the construction of the international order.Interdependence pervades all aspects of the Japan-US alliance.In this regard,Japan’s dependence on the US reveals high sensitivity and fragility,which largely shape the formation,implementation and adjustment of Japan’s strategy on international institution issues.To further refine this observation,an analysis methodology is proposed by taking Japan’s national development strategy(national role defining)as the main leading thread with Japan-US alliance characterized by asymmetric interdependence as the independent variable and Japan’s strategic choice on international institution issues as the dependent variable.This methodology breaks the evolution path of Japan’s strategy on international institution issues into three stages.From the early post-war period to the end of the 1960 s,Japan depended on the US designed international institution and functioned as a "supporter" of the system.Between 1970 s and 1990 s,the asymmetrical interdependence relationship between Japan and US swayed to a more balanced status and Japan emerged as a "reformer" of the international institution.Since the beginning of the 21 st century,especially after the financial crisis,the asymmetric interdependence between Japan and US has further evolved and Japan turned to a "follower" of US international institution strategy in selective fields.The article establishes two theoretical frameworks: the asymmetric interdependence and strategic choice on international institution issues;the strategic choices on international institution issues and their successes or failures.By conducting analysis of selected cases of international institution diplomacy from the three stages,it examines in a sequential manner the way Japan participated in the construction of international order and the progress and results it had achieved.Three action areas have been reviewed : the introduction of concepts on international order,the advocacy and promotion of international mechanisms and the creation and reform of international organizations.In general,main strategies adopted by Japan includes maintaining or supplying institutional non-neutrality and improving system legitimacy during its interaction with the US dominated system.It tried to provide institutional dividends to the international community while making full use of the spillover benefits from the US-led international institution framework.Following the above analysis,this paper clarifies that under the guidance of the national strategic goal of "becoming great power",Japan’s international institution engagement strategy has always advocated autonomy.However,it hardly escaped the shaping force of the asymmetric interdependence embedded in Japan and US relationship.Japan is more attached to US in higher international politics and areas with stronger spillover effect.Therefore,US is more capable of maneuvering Japan with check and balance and the autonomous space for Japan hence shrink smaller.Vice versa.Based on former research and analysis,this article concludes that although Japan’s national strength and strategic goal have a direct impact on its choice of international institution strategy,the fundamental determinant of Japan’s participation in the construction of international order stems from the asymmetric interdependence embedded in the Japan-US alliance.Thus this paper intends to present beneficial insight to advise China’s participation in the construction of international order and global governance.