Japan’s new nationalism: assertive abroad, challenged at home

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made good on his campaign promises for a more robust and muscular Japan.  His conservative government passed a bill to teach patriotism in schools and to elevate the Defense Agency to a full-fledged ministry for the first time since World War II. The new policy is not without its ...

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made good on his campaign promises for a more robust and muscular Japan.  His conservative government passed a bill to teach patriotism in schools and to elevate the Defense Agency to a full-fledged ministry for the first time since World War II.

The new policy is not without its detractors, though. Opposition parties to Abe's left have filed no-confidence motions against members of his cabinet.  Still, it will be interesting to see how Japan's increasing assertiveness will play out on the global stage, given its recent strong stance against North Korea's nuclear testing and its jostling for a seat on the U.N. Security Council.  And also, what will it mean for Japan's controversial textbooks?

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made good on his campaign promises for a more robust and muscular Japan.  His conservative government passed a bill to teach patriotism in schools and to elevate the Defense Agency to a full-fledged ministry for the first time since World War II.

The new policy is not without its detractors, though. Opposition parties to Abe’s left have filed no-confidence motions against members of his cabinet.  Still, it will be interesting to see how Japan’s increasing assertiveness will play out on the global stage, given its recent strong stance against North Korea’s nuclear testing and its jostling for a seat on the U.N. Security Council.  And also, what will it mean for Japan’s controversial textbooks?

Christine Y. Chen is a senior editor at Foreign Policy.

More from Foreign Policy

Vladimir Putin speaks during the Preliminary Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at The Konstantin Palace on July 25, 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Vladimir Putin speaks during the Preliminary Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at The Konstantin Palace on July 25, 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

What Putin Got Right

The Russian president got many things wrong about invading Ukraine—but not everything.

Dmitry Medvedev (center in the group of officials), an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is now deputy chairman of the country's security council, visits the Omsktransmash (Omsk transport machine factory) in the southern Siberian city of Omsk.
Dmitry Medvedev (center in the group of officials), an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is now deputy chairman of the country's security council, visits the Omsktransmash (Omsk transport machine factory) in the southern Siberian city of Omsk.

Russia Has Already Lost in the Long Run

Even if Moscow holds onto territory, the war has wrecked its future.

Sri Lankan construction workers along a road in Colombo.
Sri Lankan construction workers along a road in Colombo.

China’s Belt and Road to Nowhere

Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy is a “shadow of its former self.”

Dalton speaks while sitting at a table alongside other U.S. officials.
Dalton speaks while sitting at a table alongside other U.S. officials.

The U.S. Overreacted to the Chinese Spy Balloon. That Scares Me.

So unused to being challenged, the United States has become so filled with anxiety over China that sober responses are becoming nearly impossible.