Other Publications

Immunity for heads of state [in Japanese]

AuthorTAKEMURA Hitomi
Date2021

AbstractNowadays, the "international law of cooperation" is emerging to realize the common interest of the international community, in relation to putting an end to impunity for serious crimes under international law. The former, as an alternative to the concept of immunity through the "international law of coexistence". As things stand, the "international law of cooperation" and the "international law of coexistence" coexist, and the latter still plays a central role in maintaining the sovereign state-centered structure of international society. Therefore, it is against the foundations of horizontal legal relations between states that the realization of vertical legal relations of international law to individuals a­nd states is also difficult. As long as the international law of cooperation is not assessed as legitimate a­nd equitable towards states, it will appear to states as the international law of intervention. The question of immunity for the International Criminal Court an­d for non-party heads of state also seems to be a temporary rather than a legal solution. The success of the international law of cooperation, which seeks to redress the human rights of victims by holding individuals criminally responsible without prejudice to their sovereignty, will depend on the ability of the International Criminal Court to do so persuasively.

Party-State Structural Reform and “Rule of Law” in China [in Japanese]

AuthorTAJIMI Makoto
DateNov. 2021

AbstractThe reform of the Party's political system is all about concentrating and strengthening the authority of the relevant administrative organs and clarifying their chain of command in order to ensure the rule of “virtue" and "politics". In other words, by centralizing and clarifying the authority of command and control and by strengthening the pursuit of "political" responsibility, the reform aims to ensure that the "rule of virtue", i.e., the "absolute loyalty" to the Party Central Committee and, by extension, Xi Jinping, is used to "carry out" senior instructions.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

Japan’s COVID-19 Responses: Issues of Weak Science-Based Governance

AuthorICHIHARA Maiko
DateOct. 31, 2021

AbstractThe author analyzes the reasons for Japan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic not being as remarkable as the experiences in other Asian democracies, despite its rather stable democracy and contained populism. Trust in information, scientific-based decision-making, overall transparency and policy over the Tokyo Olympics are among the issues covered by the author. On the other hand, citizens’ behavior and the government’s respect for the Rule of Law are remarked as positive.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

To Influence Japan, China Tries Subtlety

AuthorNIVEN Timothy; ICHIHARA Maiko
DateOct. 2021

AbstractThe article touches upon China’s media strategy abroad, by first characterizing the way China attempts to localize its propaganda campaigns abroad, with limited success. It then proceeds to analyze Japan’s relation with Chinese propaganda, stating that this issue has only recently been addressed, and gives examples of how the CCP influences media space in Japan, for example with financial media.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

Chinese capital has yet not eroded Chilean democracy [in Spanish]

DateOct. 18, 2021

AbstractArticle about FPP’s publication on corrosive capital in Chile. Hannig is the main source interviewed on the research’s findings.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

The value of truth [in Spanish]

AuthorHANNIG Sascha
DateOct. 16, 2021

AbstractThis article comments on the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum summit and the topics that were discussed in that meeting, while articulating its importance for Latin America.

Global Risk and Crisis Management Program

AUKUS as a catalyst for more strategy for Japan

AuthorAKIYAMA Nobumasa
DateOct. 13, 2021

AbstractThe article addresses the Australia - United Kingdom - United States (AUKUS) relationship regarding nuclear armament and Japan’s position on the upcoming review of the National Security Strategy.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

“Soft Power and Sharp Power”, “Democratic Peace”, “Civil Society and Global Governance” [in Japanese]

AuthorICHIHARA, Maiko
DateSeptember, 2021

AbstractThe impact of soft power, democracy and civil society on security is analyzed in this article.

The “right to be forgotten” and the obligation of search engine companies to remove links [in Japanese]

AuthorNAKANISHI Yumiko
Date2021

AbstractCase note “Case C-136/17 GC and others (CJEU)”

55 The application of the crime of genocide: The Akayesu Case [in Japanese]

AuthorTAKEMURA Hitomi
Date2021

AbstractThis article is a commentary on the judgment of the First Instance Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) ruled on 2 September 1998 against Akayesu, the mayor of Taba, Rwanda. This is the first judgment issued by the ICTR, the first international court to convict a person for the crime of genocide, a­nd the first to interpret the definition a­nd requirements of the crime in the Convention on the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) as adopted by Article 2(2) of the ICTR Statute.