Soft Power Exercise And Influence In Japan's Political Power Strategy

With the trend of globalization and the deep development of interdependence and mutual influence among the international community, soft power started being valued and exercised by the word's leaders and governments. Since Joseph Nye raised the concept of 'soft power' in 1990's, to exercise, expand, and improve soft power has been listed on most countries' foreign and domestic agendas. On the other hand, the states with improved strength and lifted status are unsatisfied with the current international power sharing pattern. They pay more attention to developing their soft power and take active measures to let other states understand, agree, and support their political goals. Among these states is Japan. As a failure in Word War II, Japan is excluded from theinternational power sharing mechanism------the UN Security Council. But with itseconomic growth, Japan, now the second largest economy, has clearly defined its great state strategy as early as in Yasuhiro Nakasone 's administration, which took a permanent seat in the Security Council as its supreme political target. To achieve this goal, on the basis of its material strength, Japan has attached great importance to its soft power research and exercise, by taking the following measures: claiming the same values, forge a solid relationship with America, and get support from the West; holding up the banner of peace, mediate in security fields such as arms-control and hot spot issues, playing a constructive role in world peace; take active part in the foundation of international organizations to expand its regional and global influence; by carrying out cultural diplomacy, strengthening cultural and personnel exchanges, let the world know more about Japan. In recent years, due to its economic growth and diplomatic efforts, Japan has paved its outer political space, having a louder voice in international affairs. Its influence is enlarged, international image improved, status lifted. Japan has achieved some of its goals which could not been achieved by military means during WWII. From an once-silent defeated country to today's influential member of the international community, Japan has not only accomplished an economic miracle but also made eye-catching achievements on exercising and developing its soft power. June, 2004' Gaiku Forum, a Japan's authoritative English version foreign affairs journal, carried an essay by Joseph Nye, which says that Japan's cultural influence has not been limited to Zen and karate; Its Japanese values are further spread by its comics and cartoons. It is true that a state's influence is based on its hard power. But during the course towards agreat nation, social growth------the ability to assimilate itself and become an importantpart of the international community------is also essential. Just like a human being, hismaturity must be defined socially, as well as physically.Entering the twenty-first century, at the UN's 60^th anniversary, under the name of the UN reform, Japan tried again to pursue a permanent seat in the UNSC. It, allied with Germany, India, and Brazil, submitted their UN reform paper to the UN Assembly, and then carried out a series of all-around diplomatic activities, to ask for support from other countries, especially the five permanent states of the council. But the international community still has disputes over reform schemes; Japan's neighbors, especially its victims during WWII, are unsatisfied with its attitude towards its aggression past; some countries are unclear and suspicious about its joining motives. Its soft power was misused in some aspects; all these reasons and Japan's inadequacy of soft environment eventually lead to its diplomatic 'Waterloo'. From this failure, Japan realized that to catch its share of international power and play a role matching with its economic strength, the soft power growth is imperative. Japan's strong economy has to be translated into the ability to let other states accept and be identified with. To cultivate its favorable soft international environment, Abe administration adjusted his predecessor Koizumi's style and policies: mend its broken relations with China and the South Korea; strengthen its influence in Europe and Africa; display an open and worth trusting Japan before the word, keeping going in the direction of a great nation.As a rising power, China should intentionally keep and construct a solid soft power, as well as develop its economic and military muscles. This kind of soft power contains its original national culture, life, governmental efficiency and the ability to become a part of the international community, that is to say, the ability to defend its material fruits by the growth of its international legitimacy. As Germany, another defeated nation in WWII, has been normalized and rejuvenated; playing a leading role in Europe, Japan still hasn't been trusted by its neighbors, and far away from a regional leadership. With its considerable socializing ability Japan sill cannot catch up with the ever-rising soft threshold of a great nation. To let the world accept and be identified with its peaceful rising, China should emphasize and strengthen not only its economic growth but the soft power exercise in its state development strategy, take active part in the foundation of international organizations and mechanisms, find new channels to share international power. Only by unifying material development with social growth can China be a real great nation.