CHANGES IN JAPAN'S STRATEGIC CULTURE – THE SEVEN SINS TO PACIFISM: Japan’s Move Away From Pacifism Explained With Strategic Culture.

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the changes within Japan’s Strategic Culture that have led Japan to move away from their previous pacifist mindset and become more militarily active in, for example, the South China Sea. I have first done a thematic analysis to get access to Japan’s strategic culture and then used Greathouse (2010) Strategic Culture method and theory to explore and explain the changes that have happened to Japan’s Strategic Culture. I have come to the conclusion that Japan is moving away from its pacifism to what Prime Minister Abe is calling proactive pacifism. Japan will probably only keep taking defensive military actions, as they have done this century, but the nature of the defensive actions has changed to be more offensive and provoking. The change to Japan’s Strategic Culture is mainly rooted in the change of the interpretation of their Constitution, but six other aspects have also affected this change. Some of them are connected to the shift in the Constitution while some are not. The six other reasons are: China and North Korea increased threat, Japan aiming to take their proper place within the international community, Japan’s alliance with the U.S., religious groups and conservative politicians gaining more power, trade and Japan’s dedication to the Freedom of navigation, and Japan’s change in peace identity.