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Japan?s Security Policy and the War on Terror: Steady Incrementalism or Radical Leap?

Christopher W Hughes

CSGR Working Paper No. 105/02

August 2002

Abstract:

The study of globalisation carries important conceptual insights into the contemporary security agenda following the events of 9/11. This working paper argues that globalisation can be defined in a variety of ways, ranging from liberalisation to Westernisation, and can also be extended into concepts of supra-territorialisation. In combination, these definitions help to explain the generation of 9/11 style-conflict by providing the political-economic motivation for hyper-terrorism, by facilitating the political identities and activities of non-state actors; and by creating an environment for the global reach of terror movements. Additionally, the interconnection between globalisation and security can be seen in the response of the US to 9/11 and its striving to project military power on a global scale with declining reference to time and geographical distance, and the varied ability of sovereign states to respond to the challenge of trans-sovereign security problems in the future.

Keywords: globalisation; security; 9/11; sovereignty; East Asia; Middle East.

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Christopher W. Hughes
CSGR
University of Warwick
Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
Email: c.w.hughes@warwick.ac.uk

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