Other Publications
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.
Beyond a World “Accustomed” to Nuclear Threats: Contradictions and Dilemmas Awaiting on the Way Out of the Invasion [in Japanese]
AbstractOn February 20, 2023, Asahi Shimbun published the interview “Beyond a World ‘Accustomed’ to Nuclear Threats: Contradictions and Dilemmas Awaiting a Way Out of the Invasion” with Professor Nobumasa Akiyama, Dean of Hitotsubashi University School of International and Public Policy and GGR researcher. In the interview, Professor Akiyama indicated the dangers of the international society becoming accustomed to Putin’s threats of nuclear weapons usage. Downplaying such threats could lead Russia to become more aggressive and cause an unexpected turn of events in the war. However, the professor also stated that there is no easy way out of this situation as there are several dilemmas that come into play. While the best-case scenario is that Russia surrenders without using nuclear weapons, there is a need to consider other possible outcomes. Furthermore, to realize a world without nuclear weapons, Professor Akiyama insisted that the international community should not only talk about the idea of nuclear abolition, but also share ideas on what means are necessary to realize this idea and work toward an agreement. In the end, he discussed how such discussions and recognition of the world structure would lead to the conception of a "postwar" international order.
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.
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.