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Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications.

Thesis MA (Political Science. International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.

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Main Author: Van Wyk, Heste
Other Authors: Cornelissen, Scarlett
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2008
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access_status_str Open Access
author Van Wyk, Heste
author2 Cornelissen, Scarlett
author_browse Cornelissen, Scarlett
Van Wyk, Heste
author_facet Cornelissen, Scarlett
Van Wyk, Heste
author_sort Van Wyk, Heste
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis MA (Political Science. International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2054
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:55.520Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2008
publishDateRange 2008
publishDateSort 2008
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2054 Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications. Van Wyk, Heste Cornelissen, Scarlett University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. Theses -- Political science Dissertations -- Political science Africa -- Foreign relations -- Japan Japan -- Foreign relations -- Africa Peace-building -- Africa Political science Thesis MA (Political Science. International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. The end of the Cold War, marked by the shift from a bipolar to multipolar security order, prompted a significant change in Japan’s relations with Africa. New political and economic challenges, which are accelerated by the process of globalisation, have forced Japan to adjust its foreign policies accordingly- especially in the African context. The primary goal of this study is to analyse how the concept of human security has influenced Japan’s foreign policy towards Africa since 1998. This research question focuses on Official Development Assistance (ODA) and peacekeeping through the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Africa. The methodological nature of this study is qualitative. Secondary sources are mainly used. This study makes use of the two contending theoretical perspectives in the security paradigm, namely Neo- Realism and the Human Security Approach. An important part of the analysis is Japan’s middlepowership and why it has chosen human security as its niche diplomacy in the new security order. The findings of this study suggest that the reasons for this are, firstly that Japan has had to justify its continuing ODA cuts to Africa over the last decade, as well as its pacifist stance on peacekeeping, which sees it refraining from directly intervening in conflict situations. Other key findings of this study are that Japan’s motives for providing ODA to Africa prior to 1989 were mainly economic in nature and that diplomatic relations were limited. What also emerged from this study is that Japan’s most prominent foreign policy goals include a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, establishing itself as a prominent global player both in political and economic realms, and securing favourable relations with states whose resources are vital to its expanding economy. Japan’s more recent relations with Africa can also be characterised by its multilateral approach, particularly through organisations such as the United Nations and the African Union. Important initiatives such as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) have also played an important role in promoting African development. However, its future success will depend on coordinating TICAD and The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) policies, with human security as a common goal. The implications of the findings of this study are that Japan will have to formulate a more coherent foreign policy on security, especially towards Africa. Secondly, since Japan is no longer the ODA giant that it used to be, it will have to find new ways of defining its relationship with Africa, particularly in terms of TICAD and the G8. Future research could expand the analysis to an investigation of Japan’s ODA disbursements to all Africa countries. Additional attention should also be given to Japan’s foreign policy in terms of peacebuilding, and how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is formulating these policies. Lastly, more research can be conducted on human security in general, and other aspects of it that are promoted through Japan’s foreign policy. Masters 2008-04-14T12:44:39Z 2010-06-01T08:39:37Z 2008-04-14T12:44:39Z 2010-06-01T08:39:37Z 2007-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2054 en University of Stellenbosch 942121 bytes application/pdf application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Theses -- Political science
Dissertations -- Political science
Africa -- Foreign relations -- Japan
Japan -- Foreign relations -- Africa
Peace-building -- Africa
Political science
Van Wyk, Heste
Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications.
title Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications.
title_full Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications.
title_fullStr Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications.
title_full_unstemmed Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications.
title_short Human security as an influence on Japan’s contemporary Africa policy: principles, patterns and implications.
title_sort human security as an influence on japan s contemporary africa policy principles patterns and implications
topic Theses -- Political science
Dissertations -- Political science
Africa -- Foreign relations -- Japan
Japan -- Foreign relations -- Africa
Peace-building -- Africa
Political science
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2054
work_keys_str_mv AT vanwykheste humansecurityasaninfluenceonjapanscontemporaryafricapolicyprinciplespatternsandimplications