13 research outputs found
Japanâs policy towards the South Caucasus: pragmatic even if enigmatic
The article investigates Japanâs foreign policy towards the South Caucasus by unveiling the full range of its paraphernalia. After dwelling on Japan as a foreign policy actor, it delineates the policy vis-Ă -vis the South Caucasian states of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia along the categories of political dialogue, development assistance and economic cooperation by relying on untapped primary sources. Subsequently, the article analyzes the official discourse pertaining to Japanâs strategy and tactics with respect to the South Caucasus. Ultimately, it provides an explanation by situating the case study within the existing conceptual frameworks of âcivilianâ and ânormative powerâ. Based on the findings, the article argues that Japan has not been a ânormativeâ but it has been a âcivilian powerââa conceptual framework, which can be placed within the theory of neo-liberalism. In a nutshell, even though Japan is an enigmatic actor, it has been predominantly pragmatic in its policy towards the South Caucasus.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe