Mercantile Realism and Japanese Foreign Policy

Abstract

Finally, Eric Heginbotham and Richard Samuels of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology review Japan’s post-1945 foreign policy in light of both structural realism and mercantile realism, which, the authors state, “recognizes technoeconomic security interests—including, but not limited to, those associated with military security—as central considerations of state policy.” Based on their analysis, Heginbotham and Samuels conclude that “circumspection toward both Japanese foreign policy and structural realism” is warranted and that mercantile realism will continue to provide a better explanation of Japan’s international behavior.