1. Leave Asia, Join Europe? Refugees, Foreigners, and International Human Rights Norms in Japan Michael Strausz University of Tsukuba, June 23, 2006

2. Outline I.Puzzle II.Alternate Explanations III.My Explanation: A Theory of Contested National Identity IV.Contested National Identity in Japan

3. I.Puzzles A.Why do some international norms influence state behavior more than others? B.Why did international norms about treatment of foreign residents influenced Japan’s policy so much in the 1970s and 1980s while international norms about refugee admissions were much less influential?

4. Policy Changes of the 1970s and 1980s 1.Public sector employment 2.Social safety net 3.Education

6. II.Alternate Explanations A.Realism/Reactive State B.Liberal Institutionalism C.Constructivism

7. III.My Explanation: Contested National Identity A.Summary B.Key concepts 1.Cultural Context 2.Elite Consensus

8. IV.Contested National Identity in Japan A.Key Debate B.Postwar Consensus: Separatist Idea (“ 分離的な発 想 ” - Yamawaki Keizo) C.Challenges to the Consensus in 1970s D.New Consensus Emerges: Cautious Humanitarianism

9. A.Key debate in Japan

10. B.Postwar Consensus: Separatist Idea Masuyama Noboru, A Section Chief in the Bureau of Immigration, 1969: “It is not in the interest of Japan for Koreans to remain here. The line of thinking that suggests that ‘if they can, it would be best if they leave’ is predominant.” “ 日本にいる朝鮮の人を 日本に置いてやることは 、それが、日本にとって 利益だというケースはほ とんどありません。でき れば帰った方がいいんだ と、こういう思想が支配 的です ”

11. C.Crises of 1970s 1.It becomes clear that foreigners aren’t leaving

13. C.Crises of 1970s 1.It becomes clear that foreigners aren’t leaving 2.Western practice changes 3.Local government and judicial challenges in Japan 4.Zainichi activism 5.Fall of Saigon

14. MOFA’s objection to reservations to Refugee Convention in 1981: “Of the 80 countries that ratified the treaty, only three developed countries have made reservations, and if we did that, we would be inviting international criticism” “ 同条約加入八十カ 国のうち保留つき は先進国では三カ 国にすぎず、そん なことをすれば国 際的批判を招く ”

15. MOFA’s statement regarding expansion of Indochinese refugee quota in 1981: “In sum, by means of this [expanding of the Indochinese refugee quota to 3000], we have entered the same level as a small or mid-sized European state” “ これでようや く国際的には 、欧州の中小 国並みになっ た ”

16. D.New Consensus: Cautious Humanitarianism 1.Unhappy foreign populations threaten Japan’s domestic security and harmony (“cautious element” - protect homogeneity) 2.Failure to join international human rights regimes hurts Japan’s international standing (“humanitarian” element; related to 脱亜入欧 ) 3.What will 少子化, Japan’s declining population, mean for the cautious humanitarian consensus?