GGR Issue Briefings / Working Papers

People from the Hopeless Land in the Midst of Endless Conflict

AbstractMyanmar's 70-year civil war has resulted in a large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the number has been increasing rapidly since 2021. The author interviewed IDPs and their supporters, and reports that many people who were displaced from their normal lives by the war face extreme difficulties in terms of housing, food, infrastructure, education, and many other aspects.

Internet Outage and Freedom of Expression

AbstractAlthough the internet is a source of information and access to it represents the ability of the majority all over the world, including both young and old people, to enjoy the essence of freedom of speech, in some parts of the world people are struggling with the shutdown of the internet. In the wake of the February 1, 2021 coup, Myanmar was hit by a nationwide internet outage.

Reading U.S.-China Relations from the Perspective of Diplomatic History [in Japanese]

AbstractWhen looking at the U.S.-China relationship objectively over a long-term span, various factors other than the "confrontational" aspect that is generally focused on can be identified. This paper attaches importance to the careful reading of relevant diplomatic statements and documents to understand the U.S.-China relationship as it really is. What are the "core interests" of both the U.S. and China as seen in the official statements and documents? What are the biases that cloud our view over the U.S.-China relationship? And what was the historic nature of the modern U.S.-China relationship prior to Japan-China relations? This paper provides answers to these questions based on historical facts and documents, including the “China White Paper 1949” issued by the U.S. State Department, which the paper identifies as an important key to understand the traditional standpoint of U.S. policy on China.