Bryan Barber - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Bryan Barber

International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 2020

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies, Aug 1, 2016

ISEAS Publishing eBooks, Dec 31, 2007

In 2006, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Asō Tarō outlined an expansion of Japan’s foreign p... more In 2006, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Asō Tarō outlined an expansion of Japan’s foreign policy across Asia to emphasize its values-based diplomacy in what he called the “Arc of Freedom and Prosperity.” Since reemerging as Prime Minister in 2012, Abe Shinzō has also repeatedly evoked Japan’s values-based approach to diplomacy across Asia. This chapter lays out the puzzle of how Japan’s values-based diplomacy across an Asia inclusive of Muslim societies reconciles with its urge to securitize Islam. This chapter considers how Japan and Muslim societies alike fit into the evolving Japanese notion of Asia.

Japan faces conflicting norms and obligations that modify its perceived role in the post-Cold War... more Japan faces conflicting norms and obligations that modify its perceived role in the post-Cold War international system, and the critical junctures that have perpetuated major shifts in Japan’s perceived role have nearly all come from conflicts in Muslim Asia. What does Japan think of sanctions of, and interventions in, Muslim countries, and its own role in these actions? This chapter applies role theory to create a typology of Japan’s role conceptions as it relates to sanctions and interventions, and, more broadly, the securitization of Islam. This chapter demonstrates a clear normative shift is present in Japan regarding sanctions and interventions, and argues there are three dominant role conceptions in Japan regarding its policy. All three highly regard Japanese pacifism, but have varying interpretations of it.

Japan is one of the principal sources of ODA in Asia over the last half century, and the underlyi... more Japan is one of the principal sources of ODA in Asia over the last half century, and the underlying rationale behind Japan’s development assistance policy is a rich source to illuminate norms, strategy, and its own perceived role. How does Japan’s ODA strategy simultaneously interact with securitization of Islam? This chapter applies the triangular symbiotic framework to unpack how Japan reconciles its development assistance programs in Muslim-majority states while it also securitizes Islam. It examines the characteristics of Japan’s form of ODA, the underlying morality and philosophical views on aiding others, and analyzes cases in the Philippines, Syria, and Bangladesh, where this approach was challenged by acts of Islamic terrorism.

Japan’s leaders now emphasize a values-based approach to diplomacy, namely the “universal values”... more Japan’s leaders now emphasize a values-based approach to diplomacy, namely the “universal values” of democracy and human rights, but also “Asian values.” Promulgating values abroad is a new role for Japan, who has long let economic interests drive its foreign policymaking. What is the Japanese notion of these values, and how are they broaching the subject, particularly with Muslim states in Asia with poor records of human rights and democracy? This chapter responds to these questions through the analysis of statements made by Japanese leaders from 2013 to 2018 while visiting Muslim states in Asia. The research shows that Japan is spreading its own brand of democracy and human rights in Muslim Asia through ODA, dialogues, and in a form identified as “modeling.”

and his team at LJC America in Salt Lake City, and Dr. Sonya Nieves from Broward College. Also, t... more and his team at LJC America in Salt Lake City, and Dr. Sonya Nieves from Broward College. Also, the Consulate General of Japan in Miami has also been instrumental in providing a network of connections. Furthermore, I would be remiss without extending my deep appreciation to the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Center for Muslim World Studies, in the Green School of International and Public Affairs at FIU. The Jaffer Center provided financial assistance in several cases, including a research trip to Tokyo, but the Jaffer Center also facilitated a gathering of scholars eager to broaden dialogue on Islam and global affairs. Through the Jaffer Center, I was given ample opportunity to present this work and discuss it with scholars of Islam who provided insightful perspectives and showed a keen interest in the project. I am eager to see the developments at the Jaffer Center in coming years. v

Asian Affairs: An American Review, 2018

Japan has been playing a steady and pivotal role in Central Asia since the fall of the Soviet Uni... more Japan has been playing a steady and pivotal role in Central Asia since the fall of the Soviet Union, but to presume Tokyo's engagement is predicted on strategic interests that compete with other powers such as Russia and China in the so-called "New Great Game" is naïve to the activities occurring on the ground. Newly independent and largely unaffected by Japanese past aggression, the five Central Asian states present a unique "petri dish" for Japan's values-based diplomacy in Asia. This study analyzes significant Japanese foreign policy measures with the Central Asian republics since independence, and-through examination of speech acts by the political elites, practices on the ground, and within the institutional framework of the Central Asia Plus Japan dialogue-draws out the normativity evident in Tokyo's Central Asian policy. Using a symbiotic framework for foreign policy analysis of geopolitics, geo-economics, and geoculture, this study isolates geoculture from the two other dynamics in order to illustrate how norms operate independently from strategic interests in the region.

Japan's Relations with Muslim Asia, 2019

The quest for energy security is the most significant impetus for Japan to engage with Muslim Asi... more The quest for energy security is the most significant impetus for Japan to engage with Muslim Asia for the last half century. This chapter argues that energy security is essential to Japan’s ontological security, and thus, it is vitally important that the energy suppliers in Muslim Asia must be secured to maintain the steady flow of energy resources, despite the interpretation of Islam by Japan as a disruptive force. This chapter considers which states are presently key energy suppliers, which are potential energy suppliers, and which do not have this dynamic directly within their relations with Japan. It then explores how this dependency relationship has shaped Japan’s values-based diplomacy, and how values-based diplomacy has played out differently in these states based upon the energy dynamic.

International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 2020

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies, Aug 1, 2016

ISEAS Publishing eBooks, Dec 31, 2007

In 2006, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Asō Tarō outlined an expansion of Japan’s foreign p... more In 2006, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Asō Tarō outlined an expansion of Japan’s foreign policy across Asia to emphasize its values-based diplomacy in what he called the “Arc of Freedom and Prosperity.” Since reemerging as Prime Minister in 2012, Abe Shinzō has also repeatedly evoked Japan’s values-based approach to diplomacy across Asia. This chapter lays out the puzzle of how Japan’s values-based diplomacy across an Asia inclusive of Muslim societies reconciles with its urge to securitize Islam. This chapter considers how Japan and Muslim societies alike fit into the evolving Japanese notion of Asia.

Japan faces conflicting norms and obligations that modify its perceived role in the post-Cold War... more Japan faces conflicting norms and obligations that modify its perceived role in the post-Cold War international system, and the critical junctures that have perpetuated major shifts in Japan’s perceived role have nearly all come from conflicts in Muslim Asia. What does Japan think of sanctions of, and interventions in, Muslim countries, and its own role in these actions? This chapter applies role theory to create a typology of Japan’s role conceptions as it relates to sanctions and interventions, and, more broadly, the securitization of Islam. This chapter demonstrates a clear normative shift is present in Japan regarding sanctions and interventions, and argues there are three dominant role conceptions in Japan regarding its policy. All three highly regard Japanese pacifism, but have varying interpretations of it.

Japan is one of the principal sources of ODA in Asia over the last half century, and the underlyi... more Japan is one of the principal sources of ODA in Asia over the last half century, and the underlying rationale behind Japan’s development assistance policy is a rich source to illuminate norms, strategy, and its own perceived role. How does Japan’s ODA strategy simultaneously interact with securitization of Islam? This chapter applies the triangular symbiotic framework to unpack how Japan reconciles its development assistance programs in Muslim-majority states while it also securitizes Islam. It examines the characteristics of Japan’s form of ODA, the underlying morality and philosophical views on aiding others, and analyzes cases in the Philippines, Syria, and Bangladesh, where this approach was challenged by acts of Islamic terrorism.

Japan’s leaders now emphasize a values-based approach to diplomacy, namely the “universal values”... more Japan’s leaders now emphasize a values-based approach to diplomacy, namely the “universal values” of democracy and human rights, but also “Asian values.” Promulgating values abroad is a new role for Japan, who has long let economic interests drive its foreign policymaking. What is the Japanese notion of these values, and how are they broaching the subject, particularly with Muslim states in Asia with poor records of human rights and democracy? This chapter responds to these questions through the analysis of statements made by Japanese leaders from 2013 to 2018 while visiting Muslim states in Asia. The research shows that Japan is spreading its own brand of democracy and human rights in Muslim Asia through ODA, dialogues, and in a form identified as “modeling.”

and his team at LJC America in Salt Lake City, and Dr. Sonya Nieves from Broward College. Also, t... more and his team at LJC America in Salt Lake City, and Dr. Sonya Nieves from Broward College. Also, the Consulate General of Japan in Miami has also been instrumental in providing a network of connections. Furthermore, I would be remiss without extending my deep appreciation to the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Center for Muslim World Studies, in the Green School of International and Public Affairs at FIU. The Jaffer Center provided financial assistance in several cases, including a research trip to Tokyo, but the Jaffer Center also facilitated a gathering of scholars eager to broaden dialogue on Islam and global affairs. Through the Jaffer Center, I was given ample opportunity to present this work and discuss it with scholars of Islam who provided insightful perspectives and showed a keen interest in the project. I am eager to see the developments at the Jaffer Center in coming years. v

Asian Affairs: An American Review, 2018

Japan has been playing a steady and pivotal role in Central Asia since the fall of the Soviet Uni... more Japan has been playing a steady and pivotal role in Central Asia since the fall of the Soviet Union, but to presume Tokyo's engagement is predicted on strategic interests that compete with other powers such as Russia and China in the so-called "New Great Game" is naïve to the activities occurring on the ground. Newly independent and largely unaffected by Japanese past aggression, the five Central Asian states present a unique "petri dish" for Japan's values-based diplomacy in Asia. This study analyzes significant Japanese foreign policy measures with the Central Asian republics since independence, and-through examination of speech acts by the political elites, practices on the ground, and within the institutional framework of the Central Asia Plus Japan dialogue-draws out the normativity evident in Tokyo's Central Asian policy. Using a symbiotic framework for foreign policy analysis of geopolitics, geo-economics, and geoculture, this study isolates geoculture from the two other dynamics in order to illustrate how norms operate independently from strategic interests in the region.

Japan's Relations with Muslim Asia, 2019

The quest for energy security is the most significant impetus for Japan to engage with Muslim Asi... more The quest for energy security is the most significant impetus for Japan to engage with Muslim Asia for the last half century. This chapter argues that energy security is essential to Japan’s ontological security, and thus, it is vitally important that the energy suppliers in Muslim Asia must be secured to maintain the steady flow of energy resources, despite the interpretation of Islam by Japan as a disruptive force. This chapter considers which states are presently key energy suppliers, which are potential energy suppliers, and which do not have this dynamic directly within their relations with Japan. It then explores how this dependency relationship has shaped Japan’s values-based diplomacy, and how values-based diplomacy has played out differently in these states based upon the energy dynamic.