Date of Award

4-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Political Science

First Advisor

Patrick Donnay

Abstract

This thesis studies the increasing "offensive" nature of Japanese security capabilities in nation which has major restrictions on military capability. There are regional tensions in East Asia that have the potential to escalate to armed conflict. Other countries in the region have increased their levels of armament but how has Japan reacted? I look at three major acquisitions by Japan that have created controversy, then examine the role public opinion has towards issues of defense, including external and domestic considerations. Two major data sets on public opinion, the Global Attitudes Project and the Asia Barometer, are used. I find that external factors are a part of the reasoning for increased diversity in re-armament and levels of trust in domestic institutions are critical to an understanding of Japanese defense issues.

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