This open access book assesses the profound impact of Japan¿s aspirations to become a great
power on Japanese security democracy and foreign relations. Rather than viewing the process of
normalization and rejuvenation as two decades of remilitarization in face of rapidly changing
strategic environment and domestic political circumstances this volume contextualizes Japan¿s
contemporary international relations against the longer grain of Japanese historical
interactions. It demonstrates that policies and statecraft in the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¿s
era are a continuation of a long unbroken and arduous effort by successive generations of
leaders to preserve Japanese autonomy enhance security and advance Japanese national
interests. Arguing against the notion that Japan cannot work with China as long as the US-Japan
alliance is in place the book suggests that Tokyo could forge constructive relations with
Beijing by engaging China in joint projects in and outside of the Asia-Pacific in issue areas
such as infrastructure development or in the provision of international public goods. It also
submits that an improvement in Japan-China relations would enhance rather than detract Japan-US
relations and that Tokyo will find that her new found autonomy in the US-Japan alliance would
not only accord her more political respect and strategic latitude but also allow her to
ameliorate the excesses of American foreign policy adventurism paving for her to become a
truly normal great power.
