Security cooperation in the twenty-first century between Japan and Europe needs to be conceived in such a way that it goes beyond the narrow confines of national security or defence issues.

Wanneer

16 Dec 2013

Waar

Sigma Hall | Osaka University | Japan

In ‘traditional’ security Japan–Europe cooperation has been relatively weak (compared to their respective security ties with the U.S.), but this need not be the case in the area of ‘non-traditional’ security issues and it is in this area that effective Japan–Europe cooperation is both possible and needed. The so-called ‘Ueta Initiative’, a practical proposal put forward by Japan and agreed to by the EU in May 2011 to enhance Japan–EU cooperation in the field of disaster aid, demonstrates this point.

The joint seminar organized by the Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP), Osaka University, and Leiden University Institute of Area Studies (LIAS) on ‘Non-traditional security issues in Asia: Japan–Europe Cooperation’ aims to explore areas and possibilities for Japan and Europe to cooperate more meaningfully and effectively toward international security, especially in the wide-ranging area of non-traditional security issues. To this end, the seminar will address these issues from the perspective of human security. Japan (and other Asian states) have so far maintained a different approach to human security from European states, but the organizers believe that it is worth considering the possibility of harmonising these approaches to human security to enhance co-operation and policy coordination. It is time to focus on Japan–Europe cooperation in concrete terms.

On Monday, 16 December 2013, OSIPP-LIAS will hold a joint symposium on ‘Japan-Europe Cooperation on human security’ at Sigma Hall, Osaka University (Toyonaka Campus). In preparation for that event, the MEARC participants will meet to discuss their views on the symposium topic on Monday 11 November.

Programme: MEARC Preparatory Workshop
JAPAN-EUROPE COOPERATION ON HUMAN SECURITY

10:15-11:30 Human security in Japanese and European conceptions

10:15-10:20 Opening Comments – Dr Lindsay Black

10:20-10:40 Japan’s evolving human security policy – an adequate contribution to international security? Dr Lindsay Black

10:40-11:00 EU-Japan Cooperation in International Peace and Security: Convergent or Divergent Approaches to Post-Conflict Accountability and Peacebuilding? Dr Christopher Lamont (Groningen University)

11:00-11:30 Discussion