The evolution of Japan-NATO relations: a neoclassical realist approach

Japan and NATO have reinforced their political and security dialogue over the years, culminating with Japan's participation to the last three NATO summits. Why would distant entities such as Japan and NATO establish new partnerships in various fields such as maritime security and cybersecurity? Why have both Japan and NATO came to view themselves as reliable partners over the last decade and why contacts between two entities strictly connected to the United States had scarce interactions during the Cold War? In this context, the thesis will analyze the evolution of Japan-NATO relations starting from the end of the Second world war through the lens of neoclassical realism applied to Japan. Structural variables such as shifts in the international order will be considered, as well as agency of individual actors within bureaucratic structures and the role of norms shaping Japanese foreign policy. Through the use of primary sources and consultation of the literature on the subject, the thesis will attempt to show how the convergence of interests between NATO and Japan is, on the one hand, the result of a response to structural changes in the international order and, on the other hand, the outcome of a proactive policy pursued over the decades by actors within Japanese politics.