助成Institute forInternational Policy Studies
・Tokyo・IIPS International Conference“A New Horizon for Japan’s Security Policy
̶Basic Concept and Framework”
Tokyo, November 30 and December 1, 2004

Summary of the Presentation

The CentreBy
Dr. Zaki LAÏDISenior Researcher Fellow,
d’Etudes et de Recherches Internationales,
FranceSession 1: “The International Political Climate after 9/11”
Presentation Overview
Zaki LAÏDISenior Researcher Fellow,
The Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Internationales, France
1.

Common ground and differences in international politics that are recognizedin the Japan-Europe relationship
A. Differences between Japan and Europe• Differences in the geopolitics and security environment between Europeand Asia command the aspired strategic relationships with the US, andreflect in differences.
• Japan is in need of stepped up cooperation from the US in order to improve
its independence.
• Europe needs to stand further apart from the US in order to improve itsindependence.
B.

Common ground between Japan and Europe• Concept of attaining global stability through global governance(divisionof sovereign power on the basis of norms-based governance,
multilateralism-based system) and by way of expanding international
norms, e.g. WTO, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Japan-Europe allianceconcerned with the International Criminal Court• Emphasis on “soft power”
2.

US-Europe relationship – conflicting values or conflicting interests
A. Different views concerning the Iraq War• Differences were observed between countries within Europe as well as
between political elites and citizens within each country.
• A feeling of distance from the US concerning establishment ofinternational codes, such as on the environment, had already surfacedbefore 9/11.
B. Historical maturity of Europe• Europe understands that ideas or actions that consider state sovereignty
first and foremost have their limits from experiences of its own colonial ruleand hegemony.
• It has created a modern view of state sovereignty which aims to solveinternational issues by dividing and sharing sovereign powers of the nations.
C. The source of the US-Europe conflict• Difference in the position regarding the national sovereignty – global
governance or supremacy of state sovereignty.
• The US has a classic notion of state sovereignty, taking an opposing
position against the global governance which leads to restrictions of thesovereign power. In this context, the gap between the US and Europe isdeep.
3.

Desired picture of the global system in the future
A. Impact of the emerging power of China, Russia and India, and significanceof multipolarization• There is concern that greater prominence of China, Russia and India whichplace utmost priority on state sovereignty may resume an internationalsociety which is driven by power politics.
• Multipolarization intended to counterbalance the US as advocated by someof the intellectuals in Europe may, in some aspects, further intensify thesovereign

power-first principle and power politics in the internationalsociety. It is by no means favored by Europe which aims to expand
international norms.
B. Favored international political model – Global governance model• The US, Japan, and Europe have common interests in expanding global
governance.
• It is critical to expand partners sharing a vision under multilateralismof “norms-based governance.”• Japan is strongly apprehensive of the prominence of the sovereign powerfirst principle in Asia, and Japan-Europe cooperation aimed at global
governance will be increasingly sought in the future.