Analysis of Two Different Pacifist Concepts under the Second Abe Administration from a Role Theory Perspective

This article examines a concept ‘pacifism’ described by Japanese prime minister and Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) president Abe Shinzo and the New Komei Party's (NKP) leader Yamaguchi Natsuo through a lens of role theory to understand what roles they think Japan should play. First, how the concept 'pacifism' is used in statements (speeches, interviews, and remarks on the press) of Abe, Yamaguchi and other related materials, which are assumed to give a clue about their ideas of Japan's role in the world related to pacifism, is examined because this comparison enables to expose accord and discord between them. Second, national role conception or NRC (an actor’s subjective understanding of the country’s appropriate role in the world and the perception of domestic and foreign expectations) about Japan's role and the worldview of each party is discussed in connection with the issue of the revision of the Japanese Constitution which stipulates a general framework of Japan's foreign policy. The LDP aims to play more proactive roles by revising the constitution and Abe dismisses the current constitution as it makes only 'one-country pacifism' possible. On the other hand, the NKP tries to maintain the constitution as it is to protect traditional non-military pacifism.