Democracy and Human Rights Program

Democracy Turning Its Back on the International Order: Can Pride and Strategy for Global Engagement Be Recovered?

Japan’s Accidental Resilience in the Disinformation Age

The Ecosystem of Digital Influence Operations in China and Russia [in Japanese]

Call to Action for Georgia’s Stability [in Japanese]

Hasina’s Last Stand: The Quota Movement, Student Uprising, and the Future of Bangladeshi Democracy

AbstractBangladesh has been ruled by Sheikh Hasina for 16 years, during which time the country’s democracy has been undermined by widespread vote rigging, voter intimidation, and violent suppression of the opposition. However, the tide began to turn with the student quota protests and subsequent uprising, which eventually forced Hasina from power and led to the establishment of a military caretaker government. Despite this shift, Bangladesh remains on a quest for democracy, struggling to recover from the long period of Hasina’s undemocratic rule.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

Misinformation about Taiwan from Japan: Narrative Analysis and the Formation of New Narratives

AbstractHow should we deal with the growing concern over misinformation and disinformation? This paper examines this issue using misinformation about Taiwan emanating from Japan. The article “90% of Taiwan's Retired Executives Sell Information to China," published by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on February 28, 2023, not only sparked debate in Japan, but also led to the Taiwanese government directly pointing out the inaccuracy of the content. In this report, we first conduct a fact-check of this information and analyze the high probability that it is misinformation. Next, we counter the misinformation through a detailed analysis of the persona of the target of the misinformation and the narrative that the misinformation conveys. This study points out that the disinformation could trigger anti-Taiwan sentiment based on the persona of a 50-year-old married man, a company employee in a managerial position, with a household income of 8.5 million yen, and a Nikkei Shimbun reader. We will formulate counter-narratives from the perspective of the economy, in which the persona has a high interest, and will also touch on points to be considered when diffusing the information. Finally, we conclude that even newspaper articles must be careful about accuracy, pointing out the limitations of this paper.

Empowering Hong Kong: Journey of Community Building and Struggle for Freedom

Abstract*This paper was written based on an interview conducted on March 27, 2024.

Freedom for Hong Kong Begins with Ourselves

Abstract*This paper was written based on an interview conducted on March 21, 2024.

The Current State of National Security and Digital Platform Regulation [in Japanese]

AbstractIn April, 2024, an article titled "The Current State of National Security and Digital Platform Regulation," authored by Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law, was published in Horitsu Jiho. In this article, Professor Ichihara analyzes how national security threats are triggered on digital platforms and examines digital platform regulations for ensuring security, using the United States as a case study. Professor Ichihara points out that each digital platform is formed based on the attention economy model, wherein emotionally charged content is placed in prominent locations, making it easier for emotional disinformation to spread and for populist politicians to mobilize the masses. She also mentions that with the advent of social media, the impact of digital platforms on international politics has dramatically increased, and explains the threats of influence operations conducted through digital platforms. Furthermore, although it is difficult to assess the appropriateness of temporary regulations, she emphasizes the necessity of unified regulations, including for U.S. platform providers, to stabilize security and international relations.