Publication

This paper focuses on the disputes between Japan, Russia, South Korea and China over several small islands to the north of Japan and in the Japan / East Sea. It analyzes the different causes for the disputes such as fishing rights, oil and gas reserves, as well as nationalist pride and politics. The paper also discusses how the spread of democratization has aggravated the difficulties of reaching an international settlements to such a degree that there is a real danger that the disputes could escalate, triggering conflict. The author argues that the recognition by national leaders that they (and their rival counterparts) are constrained by the same domestic pressures would be a first step to managing the situation.