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Human Security and Japan's Triple Disaster: Responding to the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear crisis
Japan has been one of the most important international sponsors of human security, yet the concept has hitherto not been considered relevant to the Japanese domestic context. This book applies the human security approach to the specific case of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident that struck Japan on 11 March 2011, which has come to be known as Japan's 'triple disaster'. This left more than 15,000 people dead and was the most expensive natural disaster in recorded history.
The book identifies the many different forms of human insecurity that were produced or exacerbated within Japan by the triple disaster. Each chapter adds to the contemporary literature by identifying the vulnerability of Japanese social groups and communities, and examining how they collectively seek to prevent, respond to and recover from disaster. Emphasis is given to analysis of the more encouraging signs of human empowerment that have occurred. Contributors draw on a wide range of perspectives, from disciplines such as: disaster studies, environmental studies, gender studies, international relations, Japanese studies, philosophy and sociology.
In considering this Japanese case study in detail, the book demonstrates to researchers, postgraduate students, policy makers and practitioners how the concept of human security can be practically applied at a policy level to the domestic affairs of developed countries, countering the tendency to regard human security as exclusively for developing states.
The book identifies the many different forms of human insecurity that were produced or exacerbated within Japan by the triple disaster. Each chapter adds to the contemporary literature by identifying the vulnerability of Japanese social groups and communities, and examining how they collectively seek to prevent, respond to and recover from disaster. Emphasis is given to analysis of the more encouraging signs of human empowerment that have occurred. Contributors draw on a wide range of perspectives, from disciplines such as: disaster studies, environmental studies, gender studies, international relations, Japanese studies, philosophy and sociology.
In considering this Japanese case study in detail, the book demonstrates to researchers, postgraduate students, policy makers and practitioners how the concept of human security can be practically applied at a policy level to the domestic affairs of developed countries, countering the tendency to regard human security as exclusively for developing states.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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October 4, 2015
This is an ambitious book, seeking as it does not only to introduce the concept of human security, but to apply that concept in a way that sheds new light on Japan’s triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami, nuclear accident) of 2011. And it’s an ambition richly fulfilled, with much here for both the academic and the lay reader alike.
The first task of the book is to explain and show the relevance to Japan’s disaster of “human security”, an approach that seeks to widen the concern beyond national security and consider the security needs of ordinary people. While that may be an admirable intention, there is a potential danger that the term becomes diluted of meaning, and I confess that I started the book with more than a little scepticism of the concept’s value. But my scepticism was soon dispelled by the very strong opening two chapters, written by the editors. The second chapter by Bacon gives a clear and even-handed overview of the thinking around human security, explaining its two main schools–the “Japanese”, which has an economic, social and cultural agenda; and the “Canadian”, which looks more at the responsibility to protect–while warning against dichomitisation. The Japanese government, seeing too much its own approach as being about economic development for poorer countries, never thought to apply the concept or the considerable expertise of its own Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the aftermath of March 2011, and its own people suffered as a result. It is a sad irony indeed.
The book’s strong opening continues with Jeff Kingston’s superb treatment of the political and bureaucratic response to the triple disaster, which shows the appalling risk-management failures of TEPCO and the “nuclear village” that runs Japan’s nuclear power industry. It can only be hoped that lessons have genuinely been learned, although Kingston gives little ground for optimism.
Do all the following chapters meet the extremely high standards set at the start? Perhaps not, but almost all bring some interesting perspective or evidence to the discussion of the triple disaster. This book draws on the events of March 2011 to argue persuasively that a more people-centred approach to security is needed. Highly recommended reading, not least for policymakers around the world.
The first task of the book is to explain and show the relevance to Japan’s disaster of “human security”, an approach that seeks to widen the concern beyond national security and consider the security needs of ordinary people. While that may be an admirable intention, there is a potential danger that the term becomes diluted of meaning, and I confess that I started the book with more than a little scepticism of the concept’s value. But my scepticism was soon dispelled by the very strong opening two chapters, written by the editors. The second chapter by Bacon gives a clear and even-handed overview of the thinking around human security, explaining its two main schools–the “Japanese”, which has an economic, social and cultural agenda; and the “Canadian”, which looks more at the responsibility to protect–while warning against dichomitisation. The Japanese government, seeing too much its own approach as being about economic development for poorer countries, never thought to apply the concept or the considerable expertise of its own Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the aftermath of March 2011, and its own people suffered as a result. It is a sad irony indeed.
The book’s strong opening continues with Jeff Kingston’s superb treatment of the political and bureaucratic response to the triple disaster, which shows the appalling risk-management failures of TEPCO and the “nuclear village” that runs Japan’s nuclear power industry. It can only be hoped that lessons have genuinely been learned, although Kingston gives little ground for optimism.
Do all the following chapters meet the extremely high standards set at the start? Perhaps not, but almost all bring some interesting perspective or evidence to the discussion of the triple disaster. This book draws on the events of March 2011 to argue persuasively that a more people-centred approach to security is needed. Highly recommended reading, not least for policymakers around the world.
Displaying 1 of 1 review