| ID | 153242 |
| Title Proper | Japan and the Kyoto Protocol |
| Other Title Information | reconstructing ‘proactive’ identity through environmental multilateralism |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Kolmas, Michal |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The aim of this article is to interpret Tokyo's pivotal role in the Kyoto Protocol negotiations as a practice of reconstructing Japan's identity of an ‘international’ and ‘independent’ country. The text bases this argument in poststructural national identity scholarship, which believes that discursive differentiation to international forces (‘others’) plays a decisive role in formulating state's identity. For most parts of the post-war history, United States served as the most significant other for Japan's self construction. Japan narrated itself as a ‘weak’ and ‘subservient’ country dominated by the ‘dominant’ West. This narrative, however, has been significantly altered after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Japan's identity entrepreneurs began describing Japan as an ‘independent’ or ‘normal’ country, one that proactively contributes to world affairs. Tokyo's legitimization of the Kyoto Protocol was in line with this identity reconstruction. The image of a proactive environmental leader created a symbol of Kyoto that overshadowed the opponents of the Protocol, and lead Japan to ratify it albeit the United States chose to withdraw from it. Once the ratification was over, however, the practical implementation failed to comply with Japan's symbolic commitment. |
| `In' analytical Note | Pacific Review Vol. 30, No.4; Jul 2017: p.462-477 |
| Journal Source | Pacific Review Vol: 30 No 4 |
| Key Words | Japan ; Identity ; Poststructuralism ; Discourse ; Revisionism ; Kyoto |