Rethinking Japan's Identity and International Role

This paper presents a study of Japan's international role with a special focus on its historical evolution. To that end the following three pillars lay the necessary theoretical foundations: one the notions of historical and political identity and a discussion of the ambivalent shapes they have taken in Japan; two the regional context an examination of Japan's situation with respect to Asian history as a whole and finally the civilian power concept as defined by Hanns W. Maull.