Publication

This paper discusses the reinterpretation of the Japanese constitution under Prime Minister Abe’s administration in 2014 so as to allow the country to exercise the right of collective self-defense. It argues that the change in itself is not necessarily a major development as the constitution has been reinterpreted before and that the real constraints on Japan's security policy remain in the form of social and political factors. Indeed, the author even suggests that the opposition to Abe within his own political party could use the protests against his security policy to attempt to bring about a change in the Prime Minister’s office.