Publications
Attention-Gaining Fact Checking and Its Potential in the Era of “Information Warfare”
AbstractFact-checking is being conducted around the world to counter the spread of false and suspect information on the Internet and social networking services. In Japan, the spread of false information and disinformation due to the Corona pandemic has put the competence of fact-checking to the test. In Korea, fact-checking sections have been set up in online news sites that are viewed by many users, including the so-called “legacy media,” to verify various claims in free speech spaces since the 2010s. In this age of “information warfare” threats, Japanese media, also, should positively consider introducing comprehensive fact-checking into their reporting.
What is the Myanmar Military’s Intention in Releasing Prisoners: The Stance Required of ASEAN Countries [in Japanese]
AbstractOn November 24, 2022, Asahi Shimbun published an article by Professor Maiko Ichihara, GGR researcher and member of the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law. On November 17, Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, who had been detained by the Myanmar military for a long time, was released as one of the 5,800 people eligible to receive a "pardon." Professor Ichihara pointed out that behind this "pardon" release was the intention of the Myanmar junta to have ASEAN recognize its leaders as the "head of the Myanmar government" and invite them to ASEAN conferences. Furthermore, the professor also emphasized the need for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to work together in encircling the Myanmar military regime in order to develop Asia’s foreign affairs with ASEAN at the center as well as to draw attention to Myanmar's problems, which are increasingly falling out of the media's focus. Finally, she argued that ASEAN could assert its centrality by working with private actors to accelerate the acceptance of Myanmar refugees.
The Division over Liberalism and the Role of Japan [in Japanese]
AbstractThe December issue of Iwanami Shoten’s magazine “SEKAI”, published on November 8, 2022, featured an article by Professor Maiko Ichihara at the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law. Using examples from Myanmar and Afghanistan, the professor first pointed out that there is an increasing trend of suppression of human rights around the world. One of the factors behind this is the use of social networking services (SNS), which she argued has increased the division and conflict among people. While there are concerns about this growing division in Japan as well, she explained that the Chinese government's war on speech has propelled this division, and warned that democracy is being endangered by the Chinese government and other authoritarian states in the modern era. The professor also discussed the need for public-private cooperations, such as the Sunnylands Initiative, to counter the erosion of democracy and liberalism, and to combat the suppression of speech in the Asian region.
Are Disengaged Centennials Endangering Democracy?
AbstractCurrent world affairs such as the invasion of Ukraine, the spread of Covid-19, violation of human rights, disinformation, and the increasing distrust of people towards democracy raise uncertainty around the future of liberal societies, but research on younger age groups’ reactions to these trends, which will determine the course of societies in the future, is still limited. This article reviews databases to compare young people’s attitudes towards democracy in free countries and finds worrisome signals among centennials aged 18–28 in terms of political apathy, antisocial behavior, or even support for authoritarianism. One interesting result is the deep differences that this age group manifests when it comes to technocracy. This is something that can be pushed to boost institutions and confidence in democracy, but leaving it unchecked can also foster support for authoritarian approaches.
Asia Needs to Go for “Anti-Oppression” through Public-Private Cooperation [in Japanese]
AbstractAn article by GGR Researcher, Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law, appeared in the October 30, 2022 issue of the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun’s “Tashi-saisai” column. Professor Ichihara explained that governments need to promote anti-oppression efforts by cooperating with the private sector in response to the growing trend of suppression of speech in Asia. After the World War II, Asian governments had maintained relations with other countries based on the principle of non-interventionism, whereas today there are many civilian leaders who proactively oppose authoritarian governments. Taking the Sunnylands Initiative, which was held in Japan this year, as an example, Professor Ichihara pointed out that such public-private cooperations are essential in supporting those who are subjected to suppression of speech.
Chile después de Xi (Chile after Xi) [In Spanish]
AbstractOn November 8, 2022, GGR Assistant Sascha Hannig Nuñez’s article was published in Diario Financiero, a Chilean newspaper partnered with the Financial Times. In this article, Ms. Hannig Nuñez highlights the issues related to the recent re-election of Xi Jinping, China’s leader, and warns of the consequences that the Chilean economy could experience. The former, as its allied country, China, becomes more authoritarian and unpredictable. Since Chile is economically dependent on China in terms of trade and financing, she argues that there is a need for the Chilean government to keep close tabs on China’s operations under the premise that what happens in Beijing could have profound repercussions in Chile.
Asahi World Forum 2022: We Can Make this World a Better Place [in Japanese]
AbstractProfessor Maiko Ichihara, GGR Researcher and member of the Graduate School of Law, participated in the “Asahi World Forum 2022,” which launched online on October 16, 2022. At the conference, Professor Ichihara mainly pointed out the changes in Asian democracies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions that Japan should take in the future. In a discussion with other speakers, she emphasized the increasing concentration of power in governments during the pandemic and the need to refer to history in order to overcome recent complex social situations. Finally, she stated that as new values emerge in the modern world, it is important for Japan to proactively promote democracy rather than to rely on allies such as the United States to do so. The article also includes other discussions from the Asahi World Forum 2022.
Is It Useless to Refer to History? In the Era of Social Networking Information Overload, the Past Is Turning into a Database [in Japanese]
AbstractProfessor Maiko Ichihara, GGR Researcher and a faculty member of the Graduate School of Law, participated in the Asahi World Forum 2022, which launched online on October 16, 2022. Based on interviews with French and German experts on the post-COVID period, Professor Ichihara discussed democracy and its future with other participants. Taking the Russian claim of annexation of the four Ukrainian provinces as an example, she further argued that in many regions there has been a trend of repressing freedom through the use of the legitimacy of elections. Moreover, she pointed out that it is important to learn from the past in order to understand the complexities of the modern world. Finally, Professor Ichihara stated that as new values emerge in the modern world, it is important for Japan to proactively promote democracy rather than to rely on allies such as the United States to do so.
The Current Situation and Protection of the LGBTQ+ Population in Poland
AbstractThe following paper deals with the situation of the LGBTQ+ population in Poland from the perspective of human security in order to debate possible future policies. The final goal is to give a policy recommendation that improves the situation and solves problems the LGBTQ+ community in Poland is facing, and that at the same time seems bearable and even desirable to the two actors concerned, i.e., the LGBTQ+ community and the current Polish government. To do so, this paper first explains the current situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Poland by analysing its current legal status, the currently implemented policies, and the behaviour of government politicians. Additionally, the impact of the current situation on LGBTQ+ people is examined to gain a better understanding of the issue to be solved. In the next step, three different policy options are introduced together with their positive and negative consequences as well as an estimation on how likely each of them is to be implemented as can be expected from the probable reaction of each actor. In the last step, the author gives his policy recommendation that is beneficial and practicable at the same time for both actors: namely, the compromise of protecting LGBTQ+ people legally from hate crimes and promoting tolerance as fellow citizens, without granting them full equality. Although this might not be the desired effect for the LGBTQ+ community, it would mean an increase in personal security for LGBTQ+ people and a possible double victory for the conservative current Polish government.
Is Myanmar a Dystopia?
AbstractThis article overviews the Myanmar political transition and the role the military has played in enforcing authoritarian and even “dystopian” measures to remain in power, in spite of the numerous attempts to establish a functional democracy. Dystopian fiction, such as Orwell’s 1984 novel or movies like Outbreak, often portrays the loss of human dignity and political repression. Parallels can be established between these fiction pieces and current affairs regarding the Burmese regime in areas such as information or state control. One of the measures most often mentioned as “dystopian” is the use of disinformation tools and campaigns to shift public opinion. The article assesses the current economic crisis and how the junta is projecting its plans to counter the shrinking effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, and the impact this will have on average citizens.