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The Eurasian World Journal

Date of Publication: April 2023

Author: Doğukan BAŞ

During the Cold War, Japan was aligned with western liberal democracies. However, it never actively sought to promote liberal values, partly due to its aggressive behavior during the Second World War. As a result, Japan focused on improving its image in the international community, especially among neighboring countries, and adopted a non-interference policy.

After experiencing defeat and bitter lessons from the Second World War, Japan made significant changes to its foreign policy. Japanese elites began pursuing a pacifist and peaceful foreign policy, known as the Yoshida Doctrine, which was built on three main pillars: alliance with the US, relations with East and Southeast Asian countries, and involvement with the United Nations. Relations with the US provided security, while relations with Asia provided economic gains. Their foreign policy, centered on the United Nations, provided legitimacy.

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