foreign policy

Japan

is, for Japanese, not passive, but rather a purposeful, shrewd, skillful, and single-minded interest in securing economic and political interests (inducing economic and military security, rapid modernization, great power status, and world recognition of its accomplishments).

William Nester recognises the more aggressive nature of Japanese foreign economic policy. He is convinced that Japan is skillfully, successfully and single-mindedly securing its economic and political interests, and notes four Japanese foreign policy goals, namely economic and military security, rapid modernisation, acquiring great power status and world recognition of its accomplishments. These were pursued through state-led industrialization and imperialism before the war and neo-mercantilism after the war (Nester 1990: 7199). To him, Japanese foreign policy, particularly foreign economic policy, has been purposeful and shrewd, not passive.

William NesterThinkers

William Nester