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The 55th Stockholm Seminar on Japan

Japan: a Champion for Human Rights and Democrary in East and Southeast Asia?

Dr. André Asplund, Research Fellow, European Institute of Japanese Studies, Stockholm School of Economics    

About 20 years ago the Tokyo government decided that Japan should pay full attention to efforts promoting democratization and basic human rights in countries receiving Japanese development assistance. When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013 outlined ‘Five Principles’ of Japan’s ASEAN Diplomacy, ‘protecting and promoting democracy and human rights’ was listed as number one. Are there reasons to believe that Japan will (or even can) come to promote such values in a region where good relations have become increasingly important for Japan, economically and strategically? What can we learn from how Japan has previously approached the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy in East and Southeast Asia?

André Asplund is a Research Fellow at the European Institute of Japanese Studies. He earned his PhD from Waseda University where he conducted research on human rights within the framework of international relations. André has a particular research interest in human rights within Japanese foreign policies and Japanese development assistance to its Asian neighbours. 

Discussant: Björn Jerdén, Research Associate, The Swedish Institute of International Affairs

Moderator: Professor Marie Söderberg, Director, The European Institute of Japanese Studies

Date and Time: Wednesday, December 3, 15:00-16:30

Venue: Ohlinrummet, 5th floor, Stockholm School of Economics                                         

Language: English

Please RSVP to nanhee.lee@hhs.se no later than December 1, 2014.

The event is free of charge.  

The seminar series is jointly organized by the European Institute of Japanese Studies at Stockholm School of Economics, the East Asia Program at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, and the Department of Japanese Studies at Stockholm University.

It features monthly seminars on Japanese economy, politics and society. 

Welcome! 

Marie Söderberg           Akihiro Ogawa              Linus Hagström