ブックタイトル佐藤栄作論文集９～１６

概要

佐藤栄作論文集９～１６

leadership’, power, and‘high politics’. Thus, whilst Japan often appears to be in thepassenger seat, rather than driving the international community, this perceptionis partly based upon a biased framework of judgment. And because of its politicalculture and latecomer’s inexperience, Japan has not really been a major pillar of theinternational community, a concept based upon Christian and Grotian norms andvalues. This tradition is not ingrained into Japanese thinking.However, Japan should present this as a strength. In particular, Japan couldconstitute a valuable counter-balance to Western ideas and act as a pivotal bridgebetween the West and the Third World, which has been harboring feelings ofresentment towards universalizing Western economic and political values. Japan, asa country with a unique history and an affinity with the non-Western world, and witha remarkable economic record which has not conformed to the classical neo-liberalmodel, has much to offer. This is absolutely not to suggest that Japan incite North-South political antagonism; quite the opposite. Japan has experience which might helpto overcome this antagonism and offer some substance to the development debatewhich has been monopolized by laissez faire liberals on one side and radicals on theother, with little effect upon the growing gap between rich and poor.Japan can and should articulate more clearly a comprehensive vision of peaceand security which would fill an important gap which exists in the internationalcommunity. At present there is an emphasis upon short-term humanitarian assistanceand military solutions. Japan cannot at present participate in military force exceptin self-defense, so it should leave this to countries and alliances better suited to thisrole and concentrate upon the prevention of conflict, peace-building, and developingthe economic bases of peace. Such a division of labor is quite logical and credibleif communicated clearly and confidently. If Japan manages and communicates its544