Constructivist Perspective Of Postwar Japan's National Image Reshaping

With the comprehensive and in-depth development of globalization, there are several new changes in the study of international politics. The traditional approaches, such as Realism and Liberalism, cannot give a convincing explanation for some irrational factors, such as ideas, norms, identity, beliefs, irrational factors as well as cultural phenomenon. As a result, the theory, which breaks through the paradigm of rationalism, and analyzes international relations from a cultural perspective, has been put more and more emphasis on.While in these theories, the national image is an important concept. The national image is considered to be a nation's cultural manifestations, which is on behalf of a nation's value and moral pursuit. In contemporary international relations, it is very important to shape, promote and strengthen the national image actively, with a view to maintain its place in the international arena, form a good environment of public opinions and expand the nation's regional even global influence. Therefore, many nations commit to create their own good national image.After World War II, to return international community and to play an important role in world affairs, Japan is badly in need of rebuilding and improving its national image. However, during the rebuilding process, there are successes as well as failures. Its experience can be used as reference to the other countries. I started this research for three purposes. First of all, researching the course of reshaping Japan's image will help us make an objective analysis and evaluation of Japan, promote mutual understanding and eliminate prejudice and misunderstanding that is often an obstacle to build a constructive relationship between nations. Second, the remodeling experience and lessons of the post-war Japan's national image will be very useful and significant to China's national strategy of national image. Finally, it is my pleasure to promote the systemic and multi-perspective study of national image.At the beginning of introduction, I will illustrate why I prefer the issue, what the research meaning is, to what extent the academic field has done, what creativity and difficulty it remains and how to carry out my study, that is, methods or approaches of my study.Chapter I initially defines the concept of national image according to the Identity theory of Constructivism. National image means another nation (or a group of nations) and their public will form their ideas, impressions and evaluations on a nation in the international system during their interactions with the nation. The second chapter gives a review of the history of reshaping the national image of post-war Japan. This part will divide the history into three phases. The first one is from World War II to the 1960's. During this period, the goal of reshaping Japan's national image is to return to the national society. In 1970's and 1980's, Japan arrived at the peak of the economic state by its effort and proposed to become "political power". From 1990's to now, to achieve the transition from an economic power to a political power, Japan has done a lot of diplomatic efforts to promote the process of being a "political power". This part is the foundation for the next Chapter, which will be the theoretical analysis of Japan's national image.ChapterⅢis the analysis of reconstruction of post-war Japan's image by using the theory of Constructivism. I will firstly analyze the motivation and reasons that Japan rebuilds its national image and then discuss the influence of its reconstruction to the world, the Asia-Pacific area and great powers.In the last part, I will make my conclusion that Japan has made great achievements to reconstruct its national image after World War II. The experience and lessons of Japan will give important reference to China.