Book Review: Japan's Security Renaissance: New Policies and Politics for the Twenty-First Century

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Political Science Vol. 18; no. 4; p. 574
• Main Author: Yennie Lindgren, Wrenn
• Format: Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Cambridge University Press 01.12.2017
• Subjects: 21st century; Defense; International relations; Military policy; National security; Political power; Political science; Politics; Renaissance period; United States > US; Japan; Europe
• ISSN: 1468-1099; 1474-0060
• DOI: 10.1017/S1468109917000184

Andrew Oros , Japan's Security Renaissance: New Policies and Politics for the Twenty-First Century , New York : Columbia University Press , 2017, 272 pages Reviews In his most recent contribution to understanding the politics of Japanese security issues and policy outcomes, Andrew Oros argues that Japan is in the midst of a historic 'security renaissance', brought about by a gradual awakening to the security challenges of the twenty-first century. In his book, Oros joins the fray of Japan-focused international relations scholars assessing how developments in Japanese defense policy in the post-Cold War era should be understood. The theoretical framework of Japan's Security Renaissance is betwixt a realist and constructivist approach in that it is aligned with the realist paradigm, yet differentiates itself by considering the concept of Japan's 'security identity' - 'the collectively held principles that have attracted broad political support regarding the appropriate role of state action in the security arena and that are institutionalized in the policy-making process' (p. 18).