Expanding Support for Democratic Governance
2018–Present
In 2021–2022, JCIE began a new nine-month project, “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections.” The project created a platform for Japanese scholars, political and opinion leaders, and the broader Japanese public to reflect on Japan’s own experience in building a democratic society in the post-WWII era.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
PROGRAM News
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…
Online International Conference | The Role of Civil Society and the Next Generation for the Future of Democracy
May 30–May 31 (US) | May 31–June 1 (Asia) | Online
JCIE’s Democracy for the Future Program will be hosting an online international conference to explore the role of civil society and the next generation for the future of democracy. Register to attend…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
Webinar | Building Partnerships and Cooperation to Support Democratic Governance in the Indo-Pacific
November 23, 2020 | Online
As part of our program on Democratic Governance, JCIE hosted a webinar to discuss the “Sunnylands Principles on Enhancing Democratic Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Region.” Over 50 people attended t…
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 | Launch of New Japanese-Language Website
April 1, 2020 | Online
As part of JCIE’s program to expand support for democratic governance, a new website has been launched to serve as a Japanese-language hub to share information and resources on this subject.
Research Team
CHAIR
YUKIO TAKASU, Former UN Undersecretary-General for Management; former Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
CO-DIRECTORS
MAIKO ICHIHARA, Professor, Graduate School of Law, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University
RYO SAHASHI, Associate Professor of International Politics, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo; JCIE Research Fellow
MEMBERS
TAKAKO HIKOTANI, Professor, International Centre, Gakushuin University
HIROAKI SHIGA, Professor, Faculty of International Social Sciences, Division of International Social Sciences, Yokohama National University
KAORI SHOJI, Professor, Department of Political Studies, Gakushuin University
HARUKATA TAKENAKA, Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
KIMITOSHI YABUKI, Attorney at Law, Yabuki Law Offices
JCIE/JAPAN
AKIO OKAWARA, President & CEO
HIDEKO KATSUMATA, Executive Director & COO
RYO TAINAKA, Program Officer and Administrative Officer
SHIGEKO KONDO, Program Associate
JCIE/USA
KAZUYO KATO, Executive Director
STEPHEN McHUGH, Associate Program Office