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Relational Power for Foreign Policy Analysis: Issues in Japan’s China Policy

Swedish Institute of International Affairs

The aim of this article is to demonstrate how a relational concept of power can benefit Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA). It begins by drawing attention to the fact that Japan’s foreign policy has been portrayed rather enigmatically in terms of power, and by arguing that such an enigma stems from the fact that FPA has borrowed the concept of power of much International Relations (IR) theory, i.e. one that puts power on a par with capability. With a point of departure in Steven Lukes’ relational concept of power, the article then conceptualizes an alternative perspective. By applying the ensuing ‘relational power analysis’ to two ‘significant’ issues in Japan’s China policy, namely the negotiations for bilateral investment protection and interaction over the disputed Pinnacle (Senkaku or Diaoyu) Islands, the article demonstrates that Japan’s foreign policy can be portrayed more intelligibly in terms of power, and thereby also how power could be treated in FPA in the first place.

Key Words: bilateral investment treaty • foreign policy analysis • Japan’s China policy • Japan’s foreign policy • Japanese power • Pinnacle (Senkaku/Diaoyu) Islands • relational power analysis

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