Japan's foreign aid policy for Asia: Ideas of economic development and institutions

Why did Japan conduct its own independent economic development policies in Asia, although Japan's other foreign policies were greatly influenced by the external environment, especially, the United States? Why did Japan's colonial policy and its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy toward Asia share similar unique economic development approaches, even though historical contexts and purpose changed? This study examines theoretical explanations for the continuity in foreign economic policy outcomes despite significant change in international and domestic politics.; Based on historical case studies of (1) Japan's colonial development policy for Manchuria between 1932 and 1945 and (2) Japan's colonial, reparations, and ODA policies for Indonesia (focusing between 1942 and 1990), the dissertation applies the role of ideas to analyze the cause of the policy continuity and the unique Japanese economic development approach in Asia. This study found that similar Japanese economic development approaches were adopted because of the continuity in personnel and the ideas they held. Six ideas of Japan's economic approach were identified: (1) promoting a self-help effort system; (2) seeking mutual interests between Japan and Asian countries; (3) a state-led economy and long-term development plan; (4) efficient public-private cooperation; (5) utilizing foreign capital and technology; and (6) an aim to establish an Asian economic bloc. While the ideas were carried out through the continuity of personnel, the ideas were institutionalized through organizational routines, and the unchanged bureaucratic political system in the postwar period enforced the ideas.