Disciplining Democracies - (Bristol Studies in East Asian International Relations) by Lindsay Black (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book examines Japan's relationship with Myanmar from the passage of its constitution in May 2008 to the February 2021 coup d'état that finished its transition to a 'disciplined democracy.'

Book Synopsis

This book examines Japan's relationship with Myanmar from the passage of its constitution in May 2008 to the February 2021 coup d'état that finished its transition to a 'disciplined democracy.'

It explores the nexus between security and political economy in the context of changing regional dynamics characterized by 'Great Power' competition and cooperation. Focusing on the impact of Japan's relations with Myanmar on people in Myanmar and beyond, the author argues that the Japanese government and businesses side lined 'universal values' for profit at the expense of human security.

This text develops a unique Area Studies approach that critiques how Japan's foreign policy elites perceive Japan's role in the liberal international order.

Review Quotes

"A detailed, indeed exhaustive, study both of the realities of the Japanese economics-driven presence in Myanmar and the rhetoric Tokyo uses to legitimize it." Donald M. Seekins, Meio University

"Japan's diplomacy towards Myanmar is based on a policy of 'democracy as process (not progress)', which rewarded Myanmar's military regime too much for too little. This book gives a straightforward answer to this inconsistency through convincing discussions based on credible sources." Kei NEMOTO, Sophia University

About the Author