Publications
What Chile’s Failed New Constitution Can Teach Us about Democratic Processes and Failed Expectations
AbstractIn September 2022, a large majority of 62% of Chile’s voters rejected the new proposal for their constitution that was drafted over the course of more than a year and limited basic elements of liberal democracy such as separation of powers with the highest participation in recent history. In light of a new referendum, set to be held in November 2023, as well as many other countries considering changes to their respective constitutions, this paper aims to answer the following two questions. First: What lessons can be drawn from the rise and fall of this constitutional process? And second: What are the main reasons for its dramatic rejection? To answer those questions, this text first provides an overview of the narratives shared by the public. In the second part, the author conducts a thorough analysis of the reasons behind the failure of the proposal, namely poor communication, loss of public trust, as well as failed expectations towards the final text.
Changes in Political Culture among Younger Generations Trigger Loss in Trust in Democracy and Preference for Technocratic Alternatives
AbstractIn February 2023, the Academy of Political Education of Mongolia published the article “Changes in Political Culture among Younger Generations Trigger Loss in Trust in Democracy and Preference for Technocratic Alternatives” by Sascha Hannig Núñez, GGR research assistant and Chilean international analyst. In this detailed report, Ms. Núñez focuses her attention on the younger generation which should be at the center of the debate regarding political culture. She explains that this is the generation that will be most affected by the political trends seen in the modern world such as geopolitical tensions and the decline in democracies. Ms. Núñez indicates that this generation tends to vote for technocratic leaders over political leaders, especially in developed countries, whereas such tendencies are more diverse in recently established democracies. While noting that other factors should be considered for a more comprehensive understanding of this situation, she argues that the lack of trust that younger generations display towards conventional democratic mechanisms for policymaking should not be overlooked and should be taken more seriously by governmental leaders.
The World in 2035 [In Japanese]
AbstractOn February 13, 2023, “The World in 2035” (Asahi Shimbun Publications), co-authored by Dr. Maiko Ichihara, GGR researcher and professor of the Graduate School of Law at Hitotsubashi University, was published. It was co-authored by experts from various fields, including the French demographer and historian Emmanuel Todd, as well as the German philosopher Markus Gabriel. The book deals with the world in 2035, 12 years from now. While the worldwide population is expected to grow, countries with large populations such as China and Japan are predicted to become societies with a predominantly elderly population. Regarding the economy, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) is going to overtake that of the U.S., making it the largest economy in the world, while Japan is going to be overtaken by India and Indonesia to become the world’s fifth-largest economy. Furthermore, it has been noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to be further developed and utilized in various aspects of society. Amid such predictions, unpredictable events such as the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have occurred, and today’s world is filled with unprecedented uncertainty. In “The World in 2035”, experts and distinguished figures in various fields, including Professor Ichihara, present their own thoughts and predictions of the world ahead.
Fragmentation in Liberalism and Japan’s Role
AbstractOn February 9, 2023, Discuss Japan published an article by Dr. Maiko Ichihara, GGR researcher and professor of the Graduate School of Law at Hitotsubashi University. This article is a translated version of the professor’s Japanese essay that was published in the December Issue of SEKAI, a political magazine issued by Iwanami Shoten. In this article, Professor Ichihara argues that while there have been various attempts to suppress human rights in Asia, the opposition that these attempts have been met with proves how individualism and the pursuit of dignity are universal values. Mobilization of civilians to counter governmental suppression has become easier due to the spread of the internet; however, the spread of social media has generated fragmentation within people on the other hand. Such divisions in society are prevalent in Japan as well, and the professor indicates that this situation has been exacerbated by China’s discursive war. In the end, the professor clarifies how we should define democracy and introduces ways in which we can protect people’s lives, liberty, and dignity, such as the Sunnylands Initiative.
The Long Journey of Civil Society in Myanmar
AbstractMyanmar's civil society continues to resist the military junta established by the military coup that took place on February 1, 2021. Civil society, which originated in the late colonial period, has played an important role in the transition to democracy. Although its activities over the past few years have faced some challenges, civil society has continued to side with the people and has been active since the coup in areas such as access to information at home and abroad, violence prevention, and humanitarian assistance. This paper argues that civil society has played a crucial role in support of Myanmar's development and democratic values.
What is Needed for a Trustworthy, Persuasive, and Universal Human Rights Diplomacy? [In Japanese]
AbstractOn February 1, 2023, Asahi Shimbun published an article by Dr. Maiko Ichihara, GGR researcher and professor of the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law. To begin with, the professor expressed her concern about the undermining of liberal values centered on human rights in recent years and explained the issues related to human rights occurring worldwide. She also addressed Japan’s embarkation on human rights diplomacy under the Kishida administration, stating that although these efforts should be praised to a certain extent, they should not be treated as a tool of the LDP’s conservative faction. Finally, Professor Ichihara emphasized that in order to promote human rights diplomacy, Japan needs to enhance its efforts in respecting human rights within the country as well.
Two Years after the Coup: What is Myanmar’s Future? Pointing a Gun on its People, Democratization is Moving Further Away: “Turning the Attention toward the Increasing Number of Refugees” [In Japanese]
AbstractProfessor Maiko Ichihara of Graduate School of Law at Hitotsubashi University, appeared on an article published by Chunichi Simbun on January 30, 2023. Two years after the coup in Myanmar, the conflict between the military and the people still continues. Professor Ichihara addresses this problem and discusses how Japan’s stance towards ASEAN has influenced the situation in Myanmar. She argues that with the ASEAN presidency changing this year, Japan must work together with the ASEAN countries to ensure a more effective approach towards the Myanmar military. In the end, the professor points out that while the Kishida administration has been proactive in accepting refugees from Ukraine, they have not done the same for Myanmar refugees. She stresses that Japan should take action in establishing a more efficient system of accepting refugees from Myanmar in order to maintain consistency in the messages it sends to the international community.
How to Tackle Disinformation in Japan: Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War
AbstractIn December 2022, the "Impact of Disinformation on Democracy in Asia" report was published on Brookings, featuring an article by Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law. First, the professor indicates how extensive Russian disinformation and propaganda about the Russia-Ukraine war have been disrupting the discourse space in Japan. She states that the impact of this disinformation is unprecedented in Japan, making this a useful case study for analyzing the challenges of disinformation and possible appropriate countermeasures. In this context, the paper discusses Japan’s disinformation situation in relation to the Russia-Ukraine war, current countermeasures against disinformation, and recommended policies to overcome the challenges.
Humanitarian Assistance under Crisis in Myanmar
AbstractThis paper analyzes how ASEAN member countries and stakeholders have tried to raise funding for humanitarian assistance in Myanmar in response to the blocking of such aid by Myanmar’s military junta since February 2021. Japan’s foreign policy portrays the ethical dilemma of whether to work with the military junta, and numerous Myanmar citizens in Japan as well as Japanese people have criticized Japan’s official development assistance. In this paper, the role of international humanitarian organizations is emphasized as they are taking the role of important stakeholder, providing financial support to local organizations in order to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need. The paper concludes with policy recommendations, such as the use of pro-democratic channels for delivering humanitarian aid to ASEAN and international organizations.
Now Trending: Technocracy Will Generation X’s preference for technocratic governance create an opening for future authoritarianism?
AbstractOn December 2, 2022, GGR Assistant Sascha Hannig Nuñez’s article was published in American Purpose, a magazine aimed at promoting and defending liberal democracy. In this article, Ms. Hannig Nuñez identifies a trend among younger generations for preferring technocracy over elected politicians and warns that such phenomenon could justify illiberal or authoritarian governments and undermine the importance of elected officials. She indicates how fake news and disinformation contribute to this rejection of politicians in a democracy and how the recent pandemic has propelled this trend even further. In order to prevent the erosion of democracy, Ms. Hannig Nuñez argues that support for technocrats should be acknowledged and channeled within democracies instead of being perceived as a potential threat and completely dismissed.