JAPAN'S SOUTHEAST ASIAN POLICY IN THE POST-VIETNAM ERA (1975-1985)

This dissertation provides a comprehensive review of the policy of Japan toward Southeast Asia in the decade after the end of the Vietnam War. Drawing on original source materials in Japanese and Thai and a year's field research in Japan, the thesis offers a systematic review of the two critical variables affecting relations during this decade: the changing economic and security environment in the region and the dynamic of Japanese domestic politics as they impact on policy toward Southeast Asia. The central findings of the thesis are: (1) despite fundamental systemic change in Southeast Asia since 1975, Japan's policy toward this region has shown little substantive change in spite of periodic cosmetic pronouncements such as the Fukuda Doctrine; (2) despite mounting pressures from the United States for a broadened Japanese security role in the region and increased receptivity of many Southeast Asian nations to such a policy, Tokyo has successfully resisted playing a more orthodox international role in spite of a massive increase in economic interests; (3) the decision-making process in Japan, dominated by a fragmented and consensus oriented ruling party and technocrats with a strong interest in economic diplomacy, has impeded and is likely to continue to impede any change in policy toward Southeast Asia; and (4) as in the past the future role of Japan in the region will be determined by the twists and turns of international events rather than calculated policy choices in Tokyo.