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Research Papers
Imperial
Legacy: The Case for Understanding Japan and Turkey Through Their
Imperial Pasts
By Joshua W. Walker
Abstract: Empires may be dead, but imperial legacies are alive and well.
This paper examines the utility of conducting research that reaches back
beyond the nation-state to the imperial experience that laid the
foundation for contemporary post-imperial national identities. By
juxtaposing the imperial experiences of two modern non-Western empires,
the paper seeks to contextualize the present tensions that linger in
successor states that arose from the ashes of these entities and
demonstrate the saliency of imperial legacies on these nations’ current
international relations. By exploring a comparative study of the
Republic of Turkey and Japan, two important non-Western post-imperial
nations that were very much shaped by their imperial experiences and
eventually by their defeats in world wars, similarities and differences
are highlighted with particular attention provided to the role of
imperial legacies.
Joshua W. Walker is a PhD candidate in Politics and Public Policy at
Princeton University. He is writing a dissertation focusing on
historical memories in post-imperial successor states.
Natural
Gas Security of Supply in Japan: Will Qatar's LNG Be the Solution?
By Rami Abdulkarim
Abstract: Japan is the world’s largest LNG importer. However, Indonesia
is making it clear that it is now giving preference to its domestic
market. This situation means that finding new long-term deals is vital
for the energy future of Japan. The security of LNG supply has become a
serious problem for Japan, in particular for the impact it has on both
the power and the industrial sectors of the country. Qatar has the
third-largest largest proven gas reserves in the world. In addition,
Qatar is attempting to utilize this resource by making huge investments
in all the stages of the value chain. This paper examines the natural
gas market in Japan and considers the risks of resource competition from
the Asian region as well as other parts of the world. What are Japan’s
options for securing its LNG supply? That is the main issue addressed in
this paper.
Rami Abdulkarim is based at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and
Mineral Law and Policy, University of Dundee, Scotland.
Japan's Energy Relations with Russia and Kazakhstan
By Elena Shadrina
Abstract: At present, Russia and Kazakhstan are not major energy
suppliers for Japan. Nevertheless, furthering cooperation with these two
nations is connected to Japan’s long-term national interests. These
relationships may help Japan meet national energy policy goals such as
diversification away from high dependency on the Persian Gulf and
diversification away from petroleum toward a larger share for LNG and
nuclear energy. The energy exporters, for their part, are also motivated
to explore opportunities in the Japanese market. Not being direct
competitors in the same market niche, Russia and Kazakhstan will
eventually be able to expand their energy exports in East Asia. While
doing so, Russia can simultaneously exploit a chance to revive its
economically dormant eastern regions. Kazakhstan, on the other hand, is
content to tap into Japan’s technological experience as Astana pursues
ambitious plans to become the world’s largest uranium producer and
exporter.
Elena Shadrina focuses her research on various issues of energy
cooperation in Northeast Asia. She is currently based as a postdoctoral
researcher at Niigata University Graduate School of Modern Society and
Culture, Niigata, Japan.
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