Focal Interest
Focal Interest
AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

This page presents an AI-generated summary of a published research paper. The original authors did not write or review this article. [See full disclosure ↓]

Publishing process signals: STRONG — reflects the venue and review process. — venue and review process.

Japan’s defense buildup coexists with strong pacifist attitudes

An illustration showing peace and military symbols including a dove, peace sign, and protest crowd on the left, contrasted with military imagery including a warship, tanks, and missiles on the right, with a globe and map of Asia in the background.
Research area:Social SciencesSociology and Political ScienceInternational Relations and Foreign Policy

What the study found

Japan’s defense budget has increased sharply even though attachment to pacifism remains strong. The authors say this contradiction can be partly understood as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which increased fears of possible conflict over Taiwan and Okinawa.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that a sociological approach helps explain how Japan’s security debates are received in society, not only among political elites and security experts. They also argue that attention should shift toward opposition parties, intellectuals, and civil society.

What the researchers tested

The article uses the idea of war frames, meaning the ways war and security are socially interpreted and discussed, and focuses on critical voices in the securitization process, meaning the making of security threats through political and public discourse. The researchers conducted interviews with leftwing politicians and intellectuals after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and they also used polls, media analysis, and ethnographic observation in southern Okinawa.

What worked and what didn't

The study reports that Russia’s aggression helped trigger Japanese people’s fear of a conflict over Taiwan and Okinawa. The authors present this as one partial explanation for why defense spending rose while pacifist sentiment stayed strong.

What to keep in mind

The abstract presents this as a partial explanation rather than a complete one. It also does not describe other limitations in the available summary.

Key points

  • Japan’s defense budget has increased while attachment to pacifism remains strong.
  • The authors link this contradiction partly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • The study says fears of conflict over Taiwan and Okinawa were triggered by Russia’s aggression.
  • The article focuses on critical voices in the securitization process, including leftwing politicians and intellectuals.
  • The researchers used interviews, polls, media analysis, and ethnographic observation in southern Okinawa.

Disclosure

Research title:
Japan’s defense buildup coexists with strong pacifist attitudes
Publication date:
2026-03-01
DOI:
10.1177/00380261261423731
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: AI provenance information is not available for this post.

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