Other Publications
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.
Perspectives on Chinese Law – What is “Chinese-style rule of law”? [in Japanese]
AbstractIn February 2023, Professor Makoto Tajimi, GGR researcher and a professor at the Graduate School of Law of Hitotsubashi University, published an article entitled “From the Perspective of Chinese Law: What is ‘Chinese-Style Rule of Law’?” (in Japanese) in Volume 83 of the journal of Japan Society of Comparative Law. Professor Tajimi defined the Hong Kong national security law as the "Chineseization of Hong Kong" and discussed the Chinese-style rule of law (中国式法治) and the Chinese-style democracy (中国式民主). Professor explained that the rule of law is placed under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and aims to realize CCP's policy objectives. In addition, the Professor argued that Chinese democracy emphasizes unification and solidarity, and democracy and the party is positioned as integrated parts with one another. Professor Tajimi stated that the rule of law and democracy of the Chinese style are considerably different from those liberal democracy assumes. The Professor also pointed out that occurrences such as the concentration of power in the "new era" after the inauguration of Xi Jinping and the recent zero-corona policy do not indicate a change in the abovementioned concepts. Rather, the Professor argued, they are proof that the Chinese-style rule of law under the leadership of the CCP and the Chinese style of democracy, which aims to promote the interests of the whole under the CCP, are being strengthened and carried through.
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.
Withdrawal or Continuation of the New START Treaty: Putin Troubled and the U.S. Administration Put to the Test [in Japanese]
AbstractOn February 23, 2023, Asahi Shimbun published the interview “Withdrawal or Continuation of the New START Treaty: Putin Troubled and the U.S. Administration Put to the Test” with Professor Nobumasa Akiyama, Dean of Hitotsubashi University’s School of International and Public Policy and GGR researcher. This article was published immediately after Russia’s decision to suspend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) and U.S. President Biden’s surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Professor Akiyama commented on how he perceives Russia’s decision and why Putin acted the way he did in light of the approaching one-year anniversary of Ukraine’s invasion. Furthermore, he indicated that this could cause a political division within the U.S. as Russia’s suspension challenges the Biden administration’s agenda of disarmament. Professor Akiyama concluded on the note that further negotiations to renew the treaty could stall and further scrutinization on how the US reacts to this situation is necessary.
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.
Book Review: The Dictator’s Dilemma at the Ballot Box: Electoral Manipulation, Economic Maneuvering, and Political Order in Autocracies
AbstractIn February 2023, a book review written by Dr. Yujin Woo, GGR researcher and assistant professor at Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law, was published in Governance. She reviews The Dictator’s Dilemma at the Ballot Box: Electoral Manipulation, Economic Maneuvering, and Political Order in Autocracies by Masaaki Higashijima, associate professor at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Information Sciences. In this book, Professor Higashijima introduces the concept of “electoral dilemma” and uses this to explain the role that elections play in an authoritarian regime and how the balance of transparency and opacity of elections plays into the survival of the regime. Professor Woo praises the author for broadening our understanding of authoritarianism by building a unified theory that takes into consideration various dimensions and tools for analyzing political regimes. However, she signifies that there is a need for further research into various aspects related to this book, such as the relationship between media and blatant electoral fraud across democracies and autocracies.
Russia’s New START Statement “Highly Political” [in Japanese]
AbstractOn February 22, 2023, Mainichi Shimbun published the interview “Russia’s New START Statement ‘Highly Political’” with Professor Nobumasa Akiyama, Dean of Hitotsubashi University’s School of International and Public Policy and GGR researcher. In the interview, Professor Akiyama explained how the recent statement by President Putin regarding the New START treaty does not drastically change the current situation. Rather, he described it as being a “highly political” move by Putin who felt it necessary to send a strong message to the world in wake of President Biden’s unexpected visit to Ukraine and the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Professor Akiyama suggested that Putin’s aim might be to sway the political sphere within the U.S. by creating a conflict between those who support the New START treaty and those who advocate for a withdrawal from it. In any case, recent tensions have made further negotiations for a successor treaty difficult and pose a major threat to further disarmament movements in the global community.
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.