“Rising Challenges for the Japan-U.S. Alliance in the Global Commons(Cyberspace, Outer Space, and the Arctic Ocean)”[Research Overview]
With technological innovation and structural shifts in the global community also come changes
in the frameworks for international security. While cyberspace serves as critical infrastructure
for both economic and military activities, it also faces the threat of attacks not only from states
but also from terrorist groups. Furthermore, in light of China’s pronounced rise, themilitarization of space is no longer dominated by the hegemons of the Cold War era. It mustalso be noted that the ongoing effects of global warming are transforming the once-unchartered
territory that was the Arctic Ocean, making way for the possibility of economic and militaryactivity in the area. These spaces are of increasing importance as public spheres – or “globalcommons” indispensable for global prosperity, as well as security – and the international
community faces the shared challenge of ensuring security by averting threats, and establishinginternational governance over these spaces.
While the Japan-U.S. Alliance had served to promote the peace and stability of the two states
and beyond for more than 50 years, the changing strategic environment around the global
commons has presented a new set of challenges as noted above. As a state at the forefront oftechnological innovation, Japan boasts cutting-edge technology, abundant experience in spacedevelopment drawing on its long history of collaboration with the United States, and naval
power with anti-submarine capabilities – all of which are matched by few other states. However,it was not until recent years that Japan had begun to consider the global commons in the contextof security. On the other hand, securing the global commons and contributing to global
prosperity are mutual obligations among the two states, and a challenge in which Japan musttake an active role. In assessing such a role, its scope need not be limited narrowly to areas inwhich Japan could act “on its own.” Rather, Japan should collaborate with the U.S. tocomplement its areas of expertise, widen the breadth of its role, and maximize its efficacy.
The objective of this research project is to analyze the global commons (encompassing
cyberspace, outer space, and the Arctic Ocean), and to craft policy recommendations bearing in
mind the pertinent roles of the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan’s specific roles grounded in its
strengths. The desired state of Japan-U.S. collaboration, areas of specialization, and Japan’s
strengths (in terms of technology, economics, influence in the realm of foreign policy, and thecapabilities of the Maritime Self Defense Force) are among the points included in therecommendations that address global cooperation, Japan and its alliance’s roles in establishinggovernance over “the commons.” Furthermore, in considering cooperation with the UnitedStates, this project will also contemplate measures that go beyond intergovernmental
collaboration to utilize the combined strengths of industry, government and academia in Japan.
[Research Project Members]Group Leader
HOSHINO Toshiya (Professor, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University)
Group Members[“Cyberspace” Group]
TSUCHIYA Motohiro (Professor, Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance)
KAWAGUCHI Takahisa (Senior Research Fellow, Tokyo Marine & Nichido Risk Consulting
Co., Ltd)[“Outer Space” Group]SUZUKI Kazuto (Professor, Hokkaido University School of Law)
FUKUSHIMA Yasuhito (Fellow, The National Institute for Defense Studies)[“Arctic Ocean” Group]
IKESHIMA Taisaku (Professor, Waseda University School of International Liberal Studies)
KANEDA Hideaki (Adjunct Fellow, Japan Institute of International Affairs)
Group Members and Secretaries
IIJIMA Toshiro (Deputy Director General, The Japan Institute of International Affairs)
AKIYAMA Nobumasa (Professor, Hitotsubashi University / Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Instituteof International Affairs)
MATSUMOTO Asuka (Research Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs)