Date of Graduation
Spring 2023
Degree
Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies
Department
Defense and Strategic Studies
Committee Chair
Kerry Kartchner
Abstract
Acquiring nuclear weapons of its own has been inconsistent with Japan’s post-Cold War strategic culture, which is heavily based on an identity and associated norms grounded in nuclear pacifism. However, Japan’s strategic culture has been evolving with changing threat perceptions, eroding international nuclear nonproliferation norms, and declining confidence in US security guarantees. As Japan’s strategic culture shifts towards a more pragmatic interpretation of its national interests, acquiring nuclear weapons may become a more easily legitimized option, one that would be entirely consistent with a remilitarized strategic culture. Scholarship on Japanese strategic culture is vast but lacks a strategic culture explanation for why contemporary Japan would pursue nuclear weapons. Pre-1945, Japan was an inward-oriented militaristic state. Post-1945, Japan became an outward-oriented pacifist state following its defeat in the Second World War. Japan rejected having its own nuclear weapons in congruence with pacifism and improving international relations to aid in the survival of the Japanese state. Japan relies on US extended nuclear deterrence for protection, but Japan’s confidence in US security guarantees is decaying. As the US perceivably declines, Japan’s security environment is becoming more hostile. If Japan decides to pursue developing nuclear weapons for domestic security, strategic culture can explain Japan’s decision due to the factors of nuclear latency, interpretation of article 9 in Japan’s constitution, Japan’s adherence to the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (PNWT), and Japan’s confidence in US security guarantees. The previously mentioned factors may force Japan to adapt its pre-1945 strategic culture for the pursuit and development of nuclear weapons to ensure the survival of Japan.
Keywords
Japan, strategic culture, nuclear weapons, pacifism, remilitarization, nuclear latency, Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, US security guarantees
Subject Categories
Asian Studies | Defense and Security Studies
Copyright
© Logan Joseph Douglas Campbell
Recommended Citation
Campbell, Logan Joseph Douglas, "Nuclear Weapons in Japanese Strategic Culture" (2023). MSU Graduate Theses. 3852.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3852
