New Zealand's Identity and New Zealand-Japan Relations: 1945-2014
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New Zealand's Identity and New Zealand-Japan Relations: 1945-2014 By Holly Harris A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Relations Victoria University of Wellington 2015 1 ABSTRACT This thesis seeks to understand the role of New Zealand’s national identity in the Japan-New Zealand relationship to examine how identities and values have shaped New Zealand’s policies and diplomatic interaction with Japan. Four key identities are identified which contribute to New Zealand’s national self-image as a whole and illustrate the malleability of identity; the historically cultural British identity, the “search for independence” moral identity, the construction of an Asia Pacific state identity and the perception of New Zealand as a ‘good international citizen’ with liberally democratic values. To explore the role these identities and New Zealand’s perceptions of Japan have had on shaping bilateral relations, this thesis analyses multiple issues and policy decisions from 1945 till 2014 using the theoretical framework of Constructivism. It draws from a range of secondary literature, government documents, news sources, official speeches and various organisation’s publications from throughout this time frame. The research seeks to give a better understanding of how New Zealand’s national identity has evolved over time in response to domestic affairs and examine how it has contributed to shaping New Zealand’s relationship with Japan. It uncovers that the Japan-New Zealand relationship has developed significantly in the last seventy years and the role of identity can offer explanations regarding the ways in which New Zealand’s understanding of itself has helped shape its bilateral relationship with Japan. 2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 4 RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................................................................... 4 1 BACKGROUND AND EXTANT LITERATURE ............................................................................... 7 1.1 Overview of Relations ..................................................................................................... 7 1.2 New Zealand Identity in Extant literature ......................................................................... 8 1.3 Japan and New Zealand Relations in Extant Literature ................................................... 13 2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................... 18 2.1 Theoretical Framework.................................................................................................. 18 2.2 The Significance of Constructivism in Understanding New Zealand-Japan Relations ..... 26 3 NEW ZEALAND IDENTITY ...................................................................................................... 29 3.1 Identity One: A Historically Cultural British Identity ..................................................... 29 3.2 Identity Two: Construction of an Asian Pacific Identity ................................................. 34 3.2.1 Current Attitudes Towards Asia and Japan – The Role of Ethnicity in Identity Formation ....................................................................................................................................... 40 3.3 Identity Three: New Zealand as a Moral Example .......................................................... 44 3.4 Identity Four: New Zealand as a Democratic, ‘Good International Citizen’ .................... 48 4 IDENTITY IN NEW ZEALAND-JAPAN RELATIONS .................................................................... 49 4.1 Early Contact: New Zealand Identity in Shaping Initial Bilateral Relations .................... 52 4.1.2 Establishment of Diplomatic Relations ................................................................... 54 4.1.2 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 57 4.2 Cultural Identity ............................................................................................................ 58 4.2.1 Lack of Common Roots .......................................................................................... 60 4.2.2 Efforts to Build a Constituency ............................................................................... 70 4.2.3 Education Initiatives and Economic Cooperation .................................................... 72 4.2.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 74 4.3 Environmental Issues .................................................................................................... 77 4.3.1 Nuclear Issue .......................................................................................................... 77 4.3.2 Whaling .................................................................................................................. 83 4.3.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 89 5 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 91 5.1 Current Relations .......................................................................................................... 91 5.2 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 92 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 97 3 INTRODUCTION An analysis of the development of New Zealand’s relations with Japan over approximately the last sixty years may be considered a useful case study as it reveals New Zealanders changing perspectives and attitudes to their own country and to other states. The notion that a states domestic situation and identity inform their foreign policies is not a new theory, and has been used as an explanatory tool in much international analysis. New Zealand’s different identities explain much about the origins of the nation’s interests in their foreign policy choices and relationship with Japan. This thesis will trace the New Zealand-Japan relationship from the end of the Second World War until the present day, while focusing on how the nature of the relationship has evolved due to New Zealand’s response to Japan difference. The Japan-New Zealand relationship has developed significantly in the last seventy years and the role which identity has played can offer explanations about the ways in which the New Zealand understanding of itself has helped shape its relationship with Japan. Despite a predominantly strong relationship, New Zealand has encountered various problematic and conflictual situations in their bilateral relations with Japan. The initial uncertainty as to whether to establish relations with Japan, the difference in culture and a lack of common understanding have created challenges. Environmental issues, such as the New Zealand nuclear free policy and Japan’s whaling programme, have illustrated the differences and misunderstandings between both countries. These issues have created tension in an otherwise harmonious relationship. However, both countries also have many shared interests and these are founded in common values which raises a number of questions. Why have these disputes and differences arisen? Why has the relationship remained strong despite significant challenges? I argue that an important part of the answer lies in New Zealand national identity and how this has shaped the country’s foreign policy with Japan. RESEARCH QUESTION How have New Zealand perceptions of, and relations with, Japan evolved from 1945 to the present, and to what extent has New Zealand’s own identity influenced this development? The research question of this thesis is concerned with the changing perception and relationship New Zealand has had with Japan and the situations and issues which have strained the otherwise strong economic and diplomatic relationship. This thesis argues that 4 a constructivist analysis is more convincing in explaining New Zealand’s evolving relationship with Japan than a rational account. I therefore argue that the challenges, difficulties and issues which have arisen in the bilateral relationship can be attributed to difference in national identities between both countries. CHAPTER OUTLINE The following pages consider four key identities that all contribute to New Zealand’s national self-image as a whole and illustrate the malleability of identity. By looking at how New Zealand's identity or perception of what kind of state it is and wants to be with regards to other states, it becomes apparent how this identity influences its interests and foreign policy. This thesis will argue that a state will make decisions regarding its national interest based on its notion of what kind of state it is and how this is different to other states. These identities have evolved over time in response to domestic affairs and a changing international context and have contributed to shaping New Zealand’s relationship with Japan. After providing an overview of the extant literature on New Zealand-Japan relations, scholarship surrounding New Zealand national identity in foreign policy,