International relations are characterised in the mainstream media, and by many academics, as chiefly consisting of telephone calls and visits by national leaders and other policy makers in government, with traditional realist ‘power politics’ forming the background to their late-night negotiations and deals. Other actors and other types of power which are relevant to the international system are not given due consideration in these traditional analyses. This study has used theoretical and empirical research in order to show that another type of power, namely soft power, is increasingly relevant in international relations in this globalising age. Moreover, government leaders and states generally are not the only important actors in the global system, even though they may be the actors which are most in the limelight. It has been shown that it is not only important, but clearly essential, that the vital role of sub-state and non-state actors be considered as a matter of course when analysing international relations, and the workings of the global system. Furthermore, the use of Japan’s relations with China to provide case studies for the empirical research in this book has highlighted the importance of these two countries in international politics. This chapter first summarises and discusses the findings of the empirical data from the case studies. It then goes on to consider these findings in the context of the questions asked in Chapter 1. The chapter subsequently goes on to consider the implications of these empirical and theoretical findings within the larger context of international relations and the global system. Finally, the chapter looks at issues which need to be considered in future research on these areas.
On the face of it, Sino-Japanese relations continue to be dogged by potential instability, often caused by narrow political disputes between the leaders of each country, and the temptation for politicians to appeal to domestic nationalist tendencies. The media in both countries, and many academics, follow the actions of these leaders and then make general conclusions about bilateral relations based upon them.
The book is here: Soft Power in Japan–China Relations
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