1. Introduction
“We, the Japanese people, […] desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth. […] We […] pledge our national honor to accomplish these high ideals and purposes with all our resources.”
(cit. in Hook et al. 2001:466)
This excerpt from the Preamble to Japan’s Constitution that came into effect from 3. May 1947 clearly reflects Japan’s desire to regain a respectable position within the international arena. Defeated in battle and under allied occupation, it seemed as if Japan “would never again be able to play a major role on the world stage” (Linhart 1996:404). More than half a century later, circumstances have changed dramatically: not only has Japan recovered from its wartime devastation, it has also become a major economic power and risen to the status of key international player. Has Japan, in that sense, attained its goal and acquired an “honored place” in international society, as is stated in the Preamble to its Constitution?
There are several means by which to assess Japan’s place on an international stage. With regard to the above question, however, the United Nations Security Council lends itself to being a foremost measure. This can be ascribed to three rationales: firstly, the Security Council can be argued as epitomising what might indeed be called an “honored place” in international society. Not only is a permanent Security Council seat highly elitist, it is also a “scarce international resource” (Hurd, cit. in Drifte 2000:95) that enhances a country’s prestige and confers it immense status. Secondly, the Security Council is endowed with the “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security” (UN Charter, Art. 24); a function, that reveals remarkable parallels with the introductory quote which refers to an “international society striving for the preservation of peace”. Thirdly, it is overtly known, at least since the early 1990s, that Japan is pursuing permanent membership and that it has certainly tried to accomplish this “high ideal”, if not openly (“with all its resources”), then at least indirectly, from as early as the late 1960s onwards. (Drifte 2000:50)
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- THE DELPHI TECHNIQUE: GENERAL REMARKS ON METHODOLOGY
- Origin and Fields of Application
- Definition and Classification - an Attempt
- Potential and Limits
- CONTEXTUAL EMBEDDING OF JAPAN'S CANDIDATURE
- Security Council Reform - a Precondition
- The Security Council: Composition, Functions and Powers
- Why Reform?
- Security Council Reform Discussions: Development and Content
- Japan's Quest for Permanent Security Council Membership
- Credentials and Motives
- Japan's Pursuit of its Quest
- National and International Support
- Japan's UN policy
- Security Council Reform - a Precondition
- JAPAN A PERMANENT MEMBER ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL? RESULTS OF A DELPHI STUDY
- The Delphi Technique in the Context of the Present Study
- Aims
- Type
- Resources
- Participants
- Structure of the Panel of Experts
- Scope of the Panel of Experts
- Recruitment of the Experts
- The Final Panel
- Questionnaire
- Structure and Scope
- Type of Questions
- Technical Implementation
- The Final Questionnaire
- Implementation and Evaluation of the Study
- First and Second Wave of Inquiry
- The Feedback
- The Dropout Rate
- Changes in Expert Opinion between the First and the Second Wave
- Results
- Japan's Prospect of Becoming a Permanent Security Council Member
- Japan's Continuing Pursuit of its Quest
- Development of National and International Support
- Japan's Future UN Policy
- The Delphi Technique in the Context of the Present Study
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to analyze Japan's potential candidacy for permanent membership on the UN Security Council using the Delphi technique. It examines the historical context, analyzes the current situation, and explores potential future scenarios.
- Security Council reform and its impact on Japan's candidacy
- Japan's credentials and motives for pursuing permanent membership
- National and international support for Japan's bid
- The potential consequences of Japan becoming a permanent member
- The potential consequences of Japan not becoming a permanent member
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage for the study, outlining Japan's aspiration for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Chapter 2 dives into the Delphi technique, its origins, application, potential, and limitations. Chapter 3 provides contextual background, exploring Security Council reform and Japan's historical quest for permanent membership, including its motivations, achievements, and challenges.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study focuses on Japan, the UN Security Council, permanent membership, Security Council reform, the Delphi technique, national and international support, and future scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Japan want a permanent seat on the UN Security Council?
Japan seeks permanent membership to gain an "honored place" in international society, reflect its status as a major economic power, and take greater responsibility for international peace.
What is the Delphi technique used for in this study?
The Delphi technique is a structured communication method used to gather expert opinions on Japan's prospects and future scenarios regarding its UN Security Council bid.
What are the main obstacles to Japan's permanent membership?
Key obstacles include the need for overall Security Council reform, potential vetoes from current permanent members, and varying levels of regional support.
How has Japan's UN policy evolved since the late 1960s?
Japan has moved from indirect pursuit to an overt quest for permanent membership, aligning its financial contributions and peacekeeping efforts with its diplomatic goals.
What role does the Japanese Constitution play in this context?
The Preamble of the 1947 Constitution expresses Japan's desire for a respectable position in a peaceful international society, which serves as a foundational motivation for its UN aspirations.
- Citar trabajo
- Mag. MSc Sigrid Willibald (Autor), 2004, Japan's (UN)certain future? Permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council - A Delphi Study, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/58816
