Publications

Japan’s refusal of belligerence is a key element of its constitution of 1947, in which the country explicitly revokes the right to wage war. On this basis, in the past the role of Japan's military was interpreted as purely defensive in nature. However, it has remained unclear whether Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) were allowed to join efforts of collevtive security under United Nations guidance. The paper discusses this issue on two fields: Firstly, how can Japan contribute to achieving a global peace based on order ans justice? Secondly, and alternatively does Japan need to abandon the ideal of a peaceful world and, correspondingly, need to revise its constitution?

Germany’s ‘Energy Shift’ aims at achieving the country’s goals on climate protection, particularly a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by shifting towards renewable energy production and improving consumption efficiency. Seeking to provide a broader basis for understanding the policy, this study presents key fields of policy-making within which to realise an 'Energy Shift', as well as many policy options, essential actors and the relevant legal framework.

School textbooks are an arena of contesting the past to shape the future, and can be a sign of democracy as well as an indicator of efforts to suppress it. Results of the Japanese government’s school textbook screening show how successful the Abe administration is in imposing its views of controversial issues, such as the ‘comfort women’ and the Nanjing Massacre.