The Manichaean Worldview : Japanese Foreign Policy and the Danger of Dualistic Interpretations of International Affairs.

Abstract

This paper examines the approach of the Japanese government to international crises in Libya, Syria, Gaza and the Ukraine and contends that Japanese assessment of the situations involved, has been overly simplistic, adhering to a Manichaean view which frames conflict into clearly defined good and evil camps, with the former invariably being the side supported by the USA. In actuality, each of these events was far more complex and less clearly delineable than the view put forth both by mainstream media and the Japanese government. The paper highlights the danger involved in subscribing to views which fail to recognize the complexities of critical international events and argues that recent Japanese efforts to promote greater military activity under the guise of ‘proactive pacifism’ are unlikely to advance the interests of the Japanese state or the cause of international stability, as long as such irresolute perspectives are maintained.