Reaction Paper Environment 
Case Study: Japanese Foreign Economic Policy, GrasPP
Week 9 (December 4) Reaction Paper
(by CHOY How Yun, Constance; Student ID: 51138033)
Week 9 (December 4, 2013) Environment
Reaction Paper
(by CHOY How Yun, Constance)
Introduction
The two papers together provide a comprehensive account of the factors behind Japanese foreign policy on global climate change, including the domestic factors (e.g. political leadership, economic performance, pressure from interest groups, public opinion, etc) and international forces
(e.g. USJapan relations, the withdrawal of the US).
● Ohta’s paper argueed that Japan’s rationale for taking initiatives in environmental diplomacy was generated by its quest to make a nonmilitary contribution to international affairs
(as constrained by the Japanese constitution), together with domestic political framework
(political leadership, bureaucratic politics, NGOs, public opinion). In addition, international political (e.g. JapanUS relationship) and economic events (e.g. Japan’s bubble economy and Asian financial crisis) acted as catalysts.
● Tiberghien argued that Japanese’s decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol could not be explained by balance of interest (alone), but more because of “embedded symbolism”
LDP’s decision to pursue global environmental leadership, reinforced by the media and public opinion. The name “Kyoto Protocol” had also become a national symbol and
Japan’s environmental policy identity.
In general, I find that the factors behind Japan’s foreign policy on environment as identified by both articles rather similar and consistent. When reading both articles together, Japan’s initial efforts to become the global environmental leader as well as its subsequent slack were wellexplained. Japan’s Role in Kyoto Protocol
On Japan’s initial efforts towards Kyoto Protocol, Ohta explained
Week 9 (December 4) Reaction Paper
(by CHOY How Yun, Constance; Student ID: 51138033)
Week 9 (December 4, 2013) Environment
Reaction Paper
(by CHOY How Yun, Constance)
Introduction
The two papers together provide a comprehensive account of the factors behind Japanese foreign policy on global climate change, including the domestic factors (e.g. political leadership, economic performance, pressure from interest groups, public opinion, etc) and international forces
(e.g. USJapan relations, the withdrawal of the US).
● Ohta’s paper argueed that Japan’s rationale for taking initiatives in environmental diplomacy was generated by its quest to make a nonmilitary contribution to international affairs
(as constrained by the Japanese constitution), together with domestic political framework
(political leadership, bureaucratic politics, NGOs, public opinion). In addition, international political (e.g. JapanUS relationship) and economic events (e.g. Japan’s bubble economy and Asian financial crisis) acted as catalysts.
● Tiberghien argued that Japanese’s decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol could not be explained by balance of interest (alone), but more because of “embedded symbolism”
LDP’s decision to pursue global environmental leadership, reinforced by the media and public opinion. The name “Kyoto Protocol” had also become a national symbol and
Japan’s environmental policy identity.
In general, I find that the factors behind Japan’s foreign policy on environment as identified by both articles rather similar and consistent. When reading both articles together, Japan’s initial efforts to become the global environmental leader as well as its subsequent slack were wellexplained. Japan’s Role in Kyoto Protocol
On Japan’s initial efforts towards Kyoto Protocol, Ohta explained