Shifting Discourses on Japanese Collective Self-Defense and Political Competition after 2000s

Abstract

Japan possesses the rights to both individual and collective self-defense under article 51 of the UN Charter but cannot exercise the latter right due to Article 9 of Japans Constitution. However, Japan has already practiced de facto collective self-defense since 1990s. Furthermore, the Japanese government has made preparations to convert de facto collective self-defense into de jure collective self-defense. Regarding this contentious changes, some scholars point out external factors: the U.S. and regional security environment as fundamental causes of the change. However, this paper aims to explore the internal factors that have influenced the developments in the discourse on collective self-defense. To achieve the goals, qualitative methodology is employed, including (1) examining number of newspaper articles related to collective self-defense from January of 2000 to May of 2014 in Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun, Japanese major newspapers

and (2) matching incidents affecting collective self-defense with the graphs showing level of the discourse. On these empirical grounds, this paper argues, first, the level of the discourse on collective self-defense is not constantly developed rather it ascends and descends

second, the regime change is a significant factor affecting the changes in discourse. Under the DPJ government, the level of the discourse is generally low while it comparatively increases under the LDP

and third, intra-party competition also plays an important role in the changing discourse on collective self-defense. Strengthening power of groups supporting exercise the right to collective self-defense within the political party promotes the discourse.