Publications
Japan’s Gradual Move to Address Technological Challenges to Democracy
AbstractOn April 28, 2023, Asia Democracy Research Network published a paper by Professor Maiko Ichihara at the Graduate School of Law, titled "Japan's Gradual Move to Address Technological Challenges to Democracy." Digital technology is not necessarily always beneficial to democracy, and this paper examines recent Japan's efforts to address this issue. Professor Ichihara pointed out that the advancement of technology has led to problems such as citizen mistrust, infringement of personal data protection, and facilitation of government repression. She explained that the Japanese government is taking measures such as export regulations, initiatives for human rights, and establishing a position to counter misinformation and regulations on Huawei. Lastly, Professor Ichihara argued that a new narrative capable of countering misinformation is necessary. She concluded that Japan must first identify the strategies of authoritarian actors and then create and disseminate proactive narratives.
Implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus Has Failed
AbstractThe Myanmar coup leader and ASEAN leaders agreed on the five-point consensus, rates of deaths, detainees, and internally displaced people. However, the number of conflicts between the Myanmar military, ethnic armed groups, and the People’s Defense Force is rising. In addition, some ASEAN leaders have stated that the process of agreement implementation by the Myanmar military is a failure because the military is still trying to prevent humanitarian aid from reaching the people. Therefore, a number of international organizations have raised their voice to assist those in urgent need. More than two years since the agreement, it is time for ASEAN leaders to review the implementation by the military and take meaningful action, respecting the interests of the people of Myanmar.
Integration of the Emerging Countries: A Double-Edged Sword [in Japanese]
AbstractOn May 22, 2023, Asahi Shimbun published an article based on an interview with Professor Maiko Ichihara at the Graduate School of Law, titled "Integration of the Emerging Countries: A Double-Edged Sword.” This article discusses the importance of cooperation with emerging and developing countries known as the "Global South" in the G7 Summit. Professor Ichihara evaluated that while the setting of practical and collaborative agendas as a demonstration of consideration for these nations, the G7's approach appeared to forcibly incorporate the Global South into the "West." The processor noted that this approach has garnered mixed opinions and has the potential to provoke backlash. Additionally, Japan's involvement may have led to an increased perception of Japan as part of the West, and Japan needs to delicately manage its relations with the Global South more than ever.
Chinese Technology, Opportunity or Crisis? [in Spanish]
AbstractOn May 13, 2023, GGR assistant and Chilean international analyst Sascha Hannig Nuñez published an article titled “Chinese Technology, Opportunity or Crisis?（in Spanish）” in the Argentine daily La Nacion. Referring to examples from other regions, Hannig Nuñez discussed the collaboration between countries in the Latin American region and Chinese tech corporations. First, it was noted that one of the distinguishing characteristics of Chinese companies is that they are obligated to provide the Chinese Communist Party（CCP）with the information they collect, whether it was collected inside or outside of China. She explained that doubts about the information security aspect have led to a series of cases in which Huawei and ZTE have been banned from national networks by a number of countries such as Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. On the other hand, she argued that discussions on which country’s products should be introduced are ongoing in the Latin American region. Given that Chinese companies have strength in price and service and that the CCP has grown its influence in the region, the possibility of cooperation between Chinese companies and regional governments is not insignificant. She emphasized the need for discussions at the regional framework level, pointing out that decisions associated with the entry of Chinese tech companies made in a single country affect the entire region.
Dystopia: Hybrids of Reality [in Spanish]
AbstractOn March 20, 2023, Sascha Hannig Nuñez, GGR assistant and international analyst published an article "Dystopia: Hybrids of Reality (original title: Distopías híbridas de realidad)" in the Spanish literature critic journal, Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos. Hannig Nunez discusses the concept of dystopia, referring to philosophical, political and literary sources, as a starting point for her discussion of dystopia, which crosses boundaries such as study fields, eras, and geography. First, Ms. Hannig Nunez finds commonalities with T. More's concept of utopia and dystopia’s ideological origin as coined by J. S. Mill. She also argues that the experience of control in authoritarian regimes has been reflected in dystopian works, and finds this characteristic from Y. Zamyatin under the Soviet Union to J. Baradit's in the current Chile, South America. Ms. Hannig Nunez points out that technological developments have also developed means of repression, as reflected, for example, in the literature of Kazuo Ishiguro, which incorporates cloning technology. Finally, she noted that parallels to an Orwellian world can be seen in today's reality, and warned that the banal use of the word dystopia to describe mundane situations can lead to the loss of its striking and daring meaning.
G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Karuizawa – Hear the Voices of Citizens under Oppression [in Japanese]
AbstractOn April 16, 2023, Shinano Mainichi Shimbun introduced an article of Dr. Maiko Ichihara, GGR researcher and professor of the Graduate School of Law at Hitotsubashi University, titled “G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Karuizawa - Hear the Voices of Citizens under Oppression.” Looking ahead to the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held in mid-April and the G7 Summit to follow, Professor Ichihara outlined the following policies that the Japanese government should pursue to lead the international community as the G7 chair country. First, the professor stressed the importance of "freedom" and "rule of law," which are centered on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) new plan announced on March 20, 2023, and that "respect for the historical and cultural diversity of each country" is essential to realize this vision. On the other hand, Professor Ichihara emphasized that respect for the culture means not merely accepting the claims of the government, but also listening to the voices of the citizens of the country. To this end, the professor suggested that the Japanese government should collaborate with private actors, and working with the Sunnylands Initiative, launched by related actors, is an effective way to achieve this.
2023 Thai General Election: The Rise of the Opposition
AbstractThailand’s general election will be held on May 14. It is time for the Thai people to decide whether they want to stay with the pro-military government led by coup maker General Prayut Chan-o-cha or go for a different way. Despite the undemocratic constitution that favors pro-military parties, the recent trends suggest that the two main opposition parties, the Pheu Thai Party and the Move Forward Party, are likely to win by a landslide, which could result in a pro-democracy coalition government. For the Pheu Thai Party, past records and recent polls have proven that the party is invincible as it wins the most parliamentary seats in every general election and is likely to win again in the upcoming election. On the other hand, the popularity of the Move Forward Party and its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, has skyrocketed thanks to a clear political stance, impressive policies that hope to bring about change, and great performance in policy debates. For these reasons, we could see a new government from the pro-democracy opposition, which would save Thailand from the legacy of the military regime.
A History of Feud and Repeated Dialogue: Poland’s Active Support for Ukraine [In Japanese]
AbstractOn March 12, 2023, Asahi Shimbun featured a comment made by Professor Maiko Ichihara, GGR researcher and member of the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law, in its “#Opinion” column. The article the professor commented on was about the generous support shown by the Polish people towards the Ukrainians. In the article, Professor Satoshi Koyama of Kyoto University who specializes in early modern Polish history outlines the history of conflict and dialogue between Poland and Ukraine. He explains that it is precisely because of this interaction that the Polish society has been able to show such enthusiasm towards supporting Ukraine. As a member of the #Opinion panel, Professor Ichihara links this to Japan's pacifism, explaining that Japan has shown itself to be intransigent when it comes to matters outside its own borders. She points out that Japan should contribute actively to the building of a peaceful international environment.
What Is the Future for Global Cooperation on Democracy?
AbstractOn March 13, 2023, FORUM 2000 published the policy paper “What Is the Future for Global Cooperation on Democracy?”, which was co-authored by Professor Maiko Ichihara, GGR researcher and member of the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law. The professor wrote this policy paper with renowned researchers and scholars in the field of democracy and freedom. The overall aim of this paper is to assess the current state of cooperation on democracy and suggest how the Summit for Democracy (S4D) should proceed after its second summit in late March 2023. The authors first indicate the significance of the new and comprehensive “cohorts” which are divided into seventeen specific themes. After assessing the general impact that these cohorts have had across various regions, they argue that there has been a lack of commitment by governments after the first summit held in 2021. In regard to the second summit, the authors show their concern about how the events do not provide much opportunity to hold talks beyond regional boundaries. In the second section, the report highlights the geopolitical change that has occurred since the first summit, namely Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s shift in its zero-COVID policy. In light of these political dynamics, Professor Ichihara and her co-authors argue that the S4D cohorts need to focus on high-level aspects of democratic coordination. In presenting a more specific proposal for the upcoming summit, the authors call for shared leadership to ensure that a wide range of democratic states can feel a sense of autonomy in steering the process for democratic coordination. One of their suggestions is to have each regional convention elect one leading country and to have these leading countries from each region gather to oversee activities throughout a one-year term. Furthermore, the report suggests that the profound issue of invitations could be overcome by having regional hosts partner with other regional bodies and civil society organizations. In the end, the authors assert that the S4D Summit should shift from a state-centered approach to one that comprehensively focuses on global democrats. Not only would this mean the inclusion of civil society organizations, but also the Global South as well. The report proposes that the Summit, which started as an intergovernmental scheme, transforms into a public-private network that incorporates actors from various states and sectors. This would mean that the S4D stray from its current initiative and move towards “a more strategic, more inclusive, and tailored democratic coordination.”
Bringing the Benefits of Democracy into the Discussion [In Japanese]
AbstractOn March 12, 2023, Shinano Mainichi Shimbun published the article “Bringing the Benefits of Democracy into the Discussion,” by Professor Maiko Ichihara. The professor begins by bringing up the Summit for Democracy, which is to be held in late March, and states that much has changed since the first summit was held in 2021. For example, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s strict COVID-19 policies have enhanced the attractiveness of democracies by highlighting the problems that authoritarian governments face. On the other hand, the cooperative approach taken by the democratic countries towards Russia and China has strengthened the association of democracy with negative images such as interstate conflicts and wars. The professor expressed her concern over this association between security issues and democracy and argued that in order to protect liberal and democratic values, discussions regarding the positive effects that democracy has on the lives of individuals are necessary.