GOVERNANCE & DEMOCRACY
JCIE engages legislators and government leaders, civil society leaders, and other experts in explorations of how to strengthen the building blocks of democratic governance and how support for democratic governance can be better reflected in national approaches to foreign policy. We also encourage a more enabling environment for civil society as a critical component in establishing and protecting democratic norms.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Diet Roundtable | Policy Dialogue for Advancing LGBT Rights and Equality in Japan
November 28, 2023 | Tokyo
JCIE brought together a group of Diet members to speak with a representative who worked on Taiwan’s campaign for marriage equality, to discuss recent Japanese legislation aimed at protecting LGBTQ peo…
2023 Japanese Women Leaders Delegation to the US
September 11–15, 2023 | Washington DC
JCIE brought a delegation of six Japanese women leaders from political and business sectors to Washington DC to participate in a weeklong series of activities to explore issues related to US-Japan rel…
Diet Roundtable | Defending Universal Values in the Indo-Pacific Region: Japan's Role Post-Hiroshima Summit
July 26, 2023 | Tokyo
JCIE brought together a group of Diet members to meet with Derek Mitchel, President, National Democratic Institute, to discuss defending human rights and universal values in the Pacific as a follow-up…
Democracy for the Future | March 2023 Diet Roundtable
March 29, 2023 | Tokyo
JCIE brought together a group of leaders in the field to discuss how the international community should address human rights violations and expectations for the G7, which Japan was hosting later that…
Trilateral Commission | 2022 Asia Pacific Group Regional Meeting
November 20, 2022 | Tokyo
The Asia Pacific Group of the Trilateral Commission held its annual regional meeting in Tokyo, gathering leaders from around the globe to promote dialogue on key issues facing the international commun…
Interviews from the Sunnylands Initiative Retreat
August 1–2, 2022 | Odawara, Japan
At the second meeting of the Sunnylands Initiative on Enhancing Democratic Partnership in the Indo-Pacific region in Japan, select participants shared their thoughts on key issues concerning democracy…
Second Sunnylands Initiative Retreat Hosted in Japan
August 1–2, 2022 | Odawara, Japan
Responding to the urgent need to address the threats to democracy in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, JCIE convened the second meeting of the Sunnylands Initiative on Enhancing Democratic…
Webinar | Enhancing Democratic Partnership in Asia
December 7, 2021 | Online
In the lead-up to President Biden’s Summit for Democracy, JCIE organized a webinar on December 7 that convened over 40 Asia-Pacific experts to discuss how to enhance democratic partnership in the regi…
CSO Roundtable on Japan's Support in Addressing the Global Crisis for Democracy and Human Rights
August 10, 2021 | Online
JCIE hosted a roundtable which brought together participants from a variety of Japanese and international CSOs to discuss what kind of support is needed from japan to support democracy and human right…
Democracy for the Future | Roundtable on Shared Values in Asian Led Efforts to Defend and Support Democracy
June 29, 2021 | Online
JCIE brought together a group of leaders in the field to discuss the question of shared values in Asian led efforts to support and defend democracy
Democracy for the Future | Meeting of Civil Society Leaders on COVID-19 and Challenges to Democratic Values
June 11, 2020 | Online
JCIE brought together a group of civil society leaders for an online discussion on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for civil society and the challenges it might pose to democratic values in…
Democracy for the Future | Diet Roundtable with NED Vice President Brian Joseph
December 12, 2019 | Tokyo
National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Vice President Brian Joseph spoke about the role of nongovernmental organizations such as the NED in supporting democracies to a group of 15 Diet members as well…
Expert–Diet Member Delegation to the United States to Discuss US-Japan Cooperation on Democracy Support
September 17–20, 2019 | Washington DC
JCIE’s 30th Parliamentary Exchange Program featured a delegation that combined members of the Diet with experts in the field of democratic governance. The group traveled to the United States to explor…
Democracy for the Future | Diet Roundtable with Professor Andrew J. Nathan
May 30, 2019 | Tokyo
Twenty-five thought leaders from Japan met with Professor Andrew Nathan for discussions on the state of democracy and democracy assistance.
Democracy for the Future | Our Role, Japan’s Role—Thought Leaders Seminar
April 19, 2019 | Tokyo, Japan
Twenty-five thought leaders from Japan met with the president of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (USA) for discussions on the state of democracy and democracy assistance.
Related Publications & Media
The US and Japan as G7 Champions of Health and Democracy
Kazuyo Kato
May 11, 2023
In this op-ed published in the Diplomat ahead of the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima, JCIE/USA Executive Director Kazuyo Kato and Ambassador (ret.) Mark Lagon, Chief Policy Officer at Friends of the Globa…
The Struggle for Democracy in Asia Deserves Our Support
Michael Abramowitz
August 18, 2022
This piece by Freedom House President Michael Abramawitz highlights recent trends in democracy in Asia and beyond, as well as Mr. Abramawitz’s attendance at the recent Sunnylands Initiative Retreat in…
Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections | Concluding Paper
Harukata Takenaka
May 2022
This report serves as the concluding paper for a project on “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections” and was written by the project lead, Dr. Harukata Takenaka, to summarize the key points that em…
Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections 3 | Civil Society, Diversity, and Media
Harukata Takenaka, Toshiki Abe, Rieko Kage, Kaori Hayashi
April 2022
This report transcribes discussions that took place as part of JCIE’s project on “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections”. The report details the contents of the 3rd dialogue to take place as part…
Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections 2 | Government Systems
Harukata Takenaka, Yosuke Sunahara, Satoshi Machidori, Takako Hikotani
April 2022
This report transcribes discussions that took place as part of JCIE’s project on “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections”. The report details the contents of the 2nd dialogue to take place as part…
Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections 1 | The Current State of Japan’s Democracy
Harukata Takenaka, Kenneth Mori McElwain, Kensuke Takayasu, and Naoko Taniguchi
April 2022
This report transcribes discussions that took place amongst members of JCIE’s research team for our project on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance. The initial discussion took place shortly af…
Research Team Trialogue 2: The Spread of COVID-19 and Its Impact on Global Democracy
Kaori Shoji, Hiroaka Shiga, and Ryo Sahashi
January 2021
This transcription of a discussion between three research team members from JCIE’s project on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance focuses on the potential threats to democracy in the light of…
Research Team Trialogue: The Spread of COVID-19 and Its Impact on Global Democracy
Takako Hikotani, Harukata Takenaka, and Kimitoshi Yabuki
November 2020
This transcription shares a conversation between three JCIE research team members from the project on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance on their assessments of the current state of democracy…
Japan's Support for Democracy-Related Issues: Mapping Survey
Atsuko Geiger
2019
Background and examples of Japan’s work on democracy-related issues, compiled as part of JCIE’s program on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance.
Looking for Leadership: The Dilemma of Political Leadership in Japan
Ryo Sahashi and James Gannon, eds.
2015
Looking for Leadership explores the obstacles facing Japan as it looks for greater stability and power in its leadership, and explains how these lessons can also apply to the rest of the world.
Navigating Change: ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership in East Asia and in Global Governance
Rizal Sukma and Yoshihide Soeya, eds.
2015
In preparation for the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial meetings, Navigating Change proposes ways in which strategic partnerships between ASEAN and Japan can help to create a more stable East Asia, as well as…
Beyond 2015: ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership for Democracy, Peace, and Prosperity in Southeast Asia
Rizal Sukma and Yoshihide Soeya, eds.
2013
This report, based on the study conducted to reexamine and redefine the strategic value of ASEAN-Japan cooperation, offers recommendations for such cooperation and integration among ASEAN countries.
Hatoyama's Resignation and Japan's Foreign Policy
June 2010
This issue analyzes Hatoyama’s resignation, and the effects of his fall and of the establishment of the new Kan government on Japan’s foreign and national security policy.
The US-Japan Alliance: Beyond Futenma
February 2010
This issue discusses the need to reassess the US-Japan alliance to ensure that it is equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century.
The Crisis of Global Governance and the Rise of East Asia
September 2008
With the November US presidential election approaching, this special edition incorporates and expands elements raised in previous issues, examining them in the context of the global governance system,…