Global ThinkNet Fellows | New Approaches to Preventive Diplomacy

Five Global ThinkNet Fellows undertook a study project on preventive diplomacy under the direction of Dr. Hideo Sato, senior advisor to the rector of United Nations University. In October 1999, these researchers began examining such topics as UN peacekeeping activities; the peace-building process in Croatia; the international commitment to solve refugee problems; reconceptualizing the concept of state-nation relationship in Asia; and a new approach to the democratization process in Belarus.

The Civil Society Sector and NGO Activities in Asia and Europe—International Survey Project

The Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs (Keizai Koho Center) and JCIE, recognizing the need for healthy partnerships between the business and civil society sectors, launched a survey of NGOs designed to contribute to the building of sound cross-sectoral partnerships.

International Cooperation by Local Governments in Europe

This project involved interviews with local and national government institutions in five European countries to ascertain the state of cooperation between local governments and NPOs in promoting cooperation with developing countries, the relationship between local governments and government funding agencies, and the ODA strategy toward local governments.

Guidance for Governance: Comparing Alternative Sources of Public Policy Advice

Beginning in 1999, JCIE and the Brookings Institution initiated a comparative assessment of the state of alternative sources of policy advice in eight democratic countries. Drafts of the papers were presented and discussed at a workshop held in Tokyo on May 28, 2000, as well as during one of the sessions at the Global ThinkNet Conference, held in May 2000.

Europe-Japan Conference

Compared to relations with the United States, Japan’s ties with Europe have been weak and lopsided. Awareness of the need to promote mutual understanding and regular contact between Europeans and Japanese prompted JCIE to launch in 1975 a series of nongovernmental exchange meetings known as the Europe-Japan Conferences, nicknamed the “Hakone Conferences” after the venue of the first meeting.

Council for Asia-Europe Cooperation (CAEC)

The main purpose of the CAEC was to encourage and facilitate greater cooperation among Asian and European intellectuals and policy specialists in order to enhance discussions about the future direction of Asia-Europe relations. CAEC is managed by a steering committee comprising 12 research institutions in Asia and Europe.

Domestic Adjustments in the Face of Globalization

Under the guidance of Dr. Charles Morrison of the APEC Study Center, Hawaii, and Dr. M. Hadi Soesastro of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta, a multilateral team of 11 scholars identified and explored the policy issues created or substantially affected by the effects of globalization on their respective countries and regions. The results of the survey were published in 1998.

Development of Trilateral Cooperation in Global Governance among East Asia, North America, and Europe

Beginning in 2006, this APAP research program focused on the question of the “Development of Trilateral Cooperation among East Asia, North America, and Europe” and how the creation of a functional trilateral structure might be created to foster the stable development of global governance. As a result of the project, East Asia at a Crossroads was published in 2008.

A Gender Agenda: Asia-Europe Dialogue

A Gender Agenda was conceived to facilitate a dialogue on broad gender issues between two major regions of the world, Asia and Europe. The project aimed to foster discussion on the issue of gender mainstreaming and to act as one forum for international exchange on gender issues at the civil society level.

UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 38th Conference

The 38th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the participation of around 20 members from each country, who held discussions on the latest political and economic developments in Japan and the United Kingdom.