Publications
Malaysia State Election 2023: Prospects for the “Unity Government”
AbstractSince the last general election (GE15) in November 2022, the political landscape in Malaysia has shifted significantly, especially concerning the formation of new political alliances such as the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PHBN) coalition. Dubbed the “unity government,” the alliance led by Anwar Ibrahim however did not gain solid support from Malay voters. The result of the Malaysian State Election held in August 2023 further affirmed this scenario when PHBN suffered a moral defeat to the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition. It remains to be seen whether the government will become more conservative to appease Malay voters.
Problems Facing U.S. Disinformation Measures
AbstractCurrently, criticism of disinformation measures is spreading, centering on the United States House Judiciary Committee and involving right-wing media, organizations, and critics. Requests for information, congressional subpoenas, and charges have been filed against think tanks, universities, and other research institutions, as well as individual experts. The claim is that the U.S. government, either directly or through research institutions, has been suppressing conservative speech by censoring social media platforms. On July 4, 2023, a federal district court recognized government censorship and ordered a ban on contact between the government and related agencies and social networking platforms and research institutions. The court ordered that the government and related agencies be prohibited from contacting social media platforms and research institutes. Although the order was immediately stayed and an appeal is underway, the series of events has led some social media platforms and researchers to become more cautious in their efforts to combat disinformation. This problem can be attributed to a failure to follow the basic principle that disinformation is more often carried out by domestic actors and that countermeasures must also prioritize domestic approaches.
The Rise of ESG Investment and Its Controversial Reception in the United States: Implications for Global Governance
AbstractSince the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) investment has gained popularity. It has attracted attention from various stakeholders, including those with a social mission of realizing a sustainable society, and also risk-sensitive investors, as well as academia. However, there is a growing anti-ESG movement in the United States, with Republican lawmakers attempting to impede ESG-related financial risk management and hinder the growth of ESG investment. This article aims to explore the background and rationale behind this conflict surrounding ESG investment in the United States and its implications for global governance.
Problems with Hong Kongers’ “Nationality” in Residency Registration and Renewal of Hong Kong SAR Passport in Japan
AbstractHong Kongers living in Japan face unique challenges when it comes to residency registration and passport renewal. The confusion surrounding their nationality status, particularly the use of "China" instead of "Hong Kong" in official documents, creates practical difficulties and safety concerns for Hong Kongers in Japan. This paper highlights the legal and political differences between Hong Kong and China, the unique visa arrangements and exemptions enjoyed by Hong Kong SAR passport holders, as well as the implications of the Hong Kong National Security Law for Hong Kongers living in Japan. Without asking for special treatment, it is nonetheless important to consider the human rights of Hong Kongers and to provide better assistance, support, and protection for this community at risk.
US Trembles over China and Russia’s Election Meddling [in Japanese]
AbstractOn July 31, 2023, Diplomacy published a paper by Professor Maiko Ichihara, Professor at Graduate School of Law, titled " US Trembles over China and Russia’s Election Meddling ." This paper analyzes the 2022 U.S. midterm elections as a case study for analyzing China's and Russia's election intervention. Professor Ichihara noted that both Russia and China engage in influence operations, including spreading misinformation to divide American society. The 2022 midterm elections marked China's shift towards intervention, joining Russia. Professor Ichihara also argued that while there are movements in the U.S.across the civil society, legislature, and judiciary toward countermeasures, but there is also opposition to them, causing turmoil. For future responses, she emphasized private-led disinformation countermeasures, addressing institutional issues fueling domestic divisions, and removing domestic economic disparities.
The Ambiguity of International Cooperation Built by the G7: Proposal for a New Order Image Required from the Media [in Japanese]
AbstractIn July 2023, Shimbunkenkyu published an article by Professor Maiko Ichihara at the Graduate School of Law titled "The Ambiguity of International Cooperation Built by the G7: Proposal for a New Order Image Required from the Media." This article analyzes the achievements and challenges of the G7 Hiroshima Summit by looking at how it was assessed in Japan and abroad. Professor Ichihara argues that at the Hiroshima Summit, it became clear that the G7 aimed to strengthen unity among its members regarding the security order. It also built international cooperation beyond the G7 framework. Next, she explains that the G7 positioned China and Russia as challengers to the international order at the summit, acknowledging their threats. Furthermore, Professor Ichihara pointed out concerns regarding the stance of the Hiroshima Summit towards democracy, emphasizing that it only focuses on maintaining the current order and underestimates domestic factors that weakens democracy. Finally, the professor expresses expectations for the media to contribute to forming an international order upholding human dignity.
Trans-National Influence Operations and their Impact on Human Rights in Asia
AbstractOn June 28, 2023, Global Asia published a paper by Maiko Ichihara, Professor at the Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University, titled "Trans-National Influence Operations and their Impact on Human Rights in Asia." This paper explains the structure and impact of transnational influence operations by authoritarian states, particularly China's manipulation efforts targeting Asian countries. Professor Ichihara noted that Asia is most affected by China's influence operations. In addition, she describes how authoritarian states exploit economic inequalities, political divisions, and citizens' behavioral tendencies through their influence operations. Furthermore, Professor Ichihara argued that influence operations targeting human rights serve the purpose of concealing human rights issues and political instability within authoritarian states. Lastly, Professor Ichihara emphasized the need for advanced research, fact-checking, and counter-narratives as countermeasures against influence operations.
“Democracy” in Unrecognized States: Its Variations and Determinants
AbstractThe term "unrecognized states" refers to entities that have declared independence but lack international recognition while operating independently from their legal parent state. In recent years, with Russia's invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, unrecognized states and similar entities have emerged, drawing attention to their roles. Many of these existing entities conduct competitive elections, with some even experiencing change of government through elections. However, most of them rely on support from authoritarian states and face severe economic and societal conditions that hinder democratization. Consequently, some studies suggest the existence of unique factors influencing democratization in unrecognized states. According to measures of democracy, however, not all unrecognized states have fully democratized, as there are variations in the quality of democratization among them. This paper reviews the current political regimes in unrecognized states, along with existing research in the field, and identifies the limitations, while proposing new possibilities for hypotheses.
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.