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

Presentation Overview
By
Dr. Akihiko Tanaka
Professor and Director
Institute of Oriental Culture
University of TokyoJapan

Session 1: “The International Political Climate after9/11”

Presentation Overview
Akihiko Tanaka
Professor, University of Tokyo
1.

Three spheres constituting the modern world system
The modern world system consists of the following three spheres, interaction
between which form international politics.
A. The first sphere (new medieval sphere) – Kantian logic• Democracy and market economy have taken root, and therefore, therole of the sovereign nation has been diminished. Hence, inter-state
war within the sphere is unimaginable.
• Politics is based on coordination aimed at building a community
among friends.
B. The second sphere (modern sphere) – Lockean logic• Undergoing political and economical modernization, trying to forma nation state under nationalism. Inter-state war within the sphere isstill possible.
• Rivals compete over political power under a minimum set of rules.
C. The third sphere (chaotic sphere) – Hobbesian logic• Nations suffer from civil war and starvation being unable tomaintain even the minimum social order .
• All people fighting against all people in the absence of theminimum set of rules.

2.

Dilemma in world politics generated from interaction between thespheres.

The complexity of the problem comes from the fact that these three spheres do
not exist separately. Situations that force them to interact with each otherposes a serious dilemma to international politics.
A. Reality of the interaction• A Kantian entity which interacts with a Lockean entity is obliged toact in the Lockean manner.
Reasonable deterrent measures will be required when it stands face toface with a nation aspiring to boost national prestige by means ofmilitary expansion.
• A Kantian or Lockean entity which interacts with a Hobbesian entity
is obliged to act in a Hobbesian manner.
It cannot see terrorists as a rival who act based on a certain set ofrules. Deterrent measures are insufficient.
B. Dilemma of the US• The events of 9/11 posed reality of the Hobbesian world to the US.
• Because the US, which represents the first sphere, is mostfrequently engaged in military interactions with the second and thethird spheres, it has come to drift into a dilemma in its behavioral
principle (acts like a Lockean or Hobbesian while being a Kantian
nation itself) much more than any other nations.
C. Concerns of Europe• Having joined the first sphere nations following the ending of theCold War, Lockean actions are no longer needed in Europe. While itseeks a Kantian world, it feels a stronger repulsion towards theHobbesian thoughts and the US who acts like a Hobbesian.
• Europe is distrustful of the US, speculating that it might havetransformed into a Hobbesian entity leveraging its superpower
position.
D. Circumstances of Japan• Japan was able to act like a Kantian nation due to particularsituations it was placed in the post-war period.
• Contrary to Europe, it became increasingly necessary for Japan toconfront nations in the second sphere particularly after the ending of
the Cold War. While feeling an aversion towards Hobbesian actionsof the US, it valued its relationship with the US from a Lockean
viewpoint.
E. Rifts caused within the first sphere due to the Iraq War
The rifts within the first sphere do not reflect surfacing of the structural
conflict between the US and Europe, but are attributable to different militaryroles that the US and Europe play, which arise from interactions between

spheres. They

also represent a diplomatic breakdown of having failed

to establish a common recognition concerning measures required for security.
2.

Response to future challenges
A. Basic recognition• Both US and Europe basically share Kantian thoughts. A difference
comes from different actions arising from different roles they actuallyplay and from different assessment of such actions.
• Nations in the first sphere will need to overcome the rifts and work on
various issues in the world through cooperation.
B. Points to keep in mind for the US• Although Hobbesian actions may be necessary at times, it shouldnot
do anything that might downplay being a Kantian, thereby losingfriends.
C. Points to keep in mind for Europe• The current situation in Iraq, whose handling Europe isleaving completely up to the US by thinking that it has no interestin Hobbesian type of risks, is serious. Euope must recognize that theUS, which responds to Lockean and Hobbesian challenges, is forced toact in a Lockean or Hobbesian manner. Cooperation overcoming pastrifts will be critical.