Japan and the Third World: Patterns, Power, Prospects

Since 1945, Japan's policymakers have viewed geoeconomic rather than geopolitical influence as the most important source of power in an increasingly interdependent world political economy. Japanese policy toward the Third World is a vital part of Tokyo's neomercantilist drive to transform Japan into an economic superpower and ensure Japan's comprehensive security. Essentially, Tokyo's Third World policy attempts to diversify Japan's foreign sources of markets, energy, and raw materials as widely as possible while making these sources dependent on Japanese goods, services, technology, and capital. "Japan and the Third World" analyzes how Tokyo entangles strategic countries and regions in an integrated overseas political economic web generating enormous wealth and power for Japan.