Japan: A Rising Champion of Human Rights and Democracy in East and Southeast Asia? : The 21st century, a changing approach with old continuities

Abstract: This study explores and provides an understanding of how Japan, in its foreign policy, has approached the protection and promotion of international human rights and democracy in East and Southeast Asia during the 21st century. It sheds light on the Japanese government’s official policies stated in forums like the national Diet and the United Nations, and it analyzes the main characteristics of the Japanese approach. By using international relations theory as a framework, this study argues that Japan has increasingly in its foreign policies during the 21st century emphasized the importance of human rights and democracy (in lines with a liberal approach), at levels not seen before, in general and towards Asia as region. The importance of spreading the universal values of human rights and democracy to all parts of the world has during the 21st century become a continuous notion of the Japanese government. However, Japan has not been consistent in its promotion of such values. Policies of human rights and democracy have been superseded by realist claims of security towards East and Southeast Asian nations that pose imminent or potential security threats (military or economic) to Japan. Hence, Japan is utilizing an elective and adaptive policy on human rights and democracy, adhering to a generally liberal approach where possible and a realist where needed.