Bridging the gap between International Relations and Area Studies: the case of Japanese Studies

Abstract Debates between International Relations (IR) and Area Studies (AS) have a long history. With the rise of non-western/global International Relations (global IR) theory since the early 21st century, there have been increasing calls for dialogue and knowledge exchange between the two disciplines. This article uses Japan/Japanese Studies as a case to explore its contributions to IR theory and to examine how mainstream IR theory addresses Japan and Japanese Studies. Meso-level theories originating from Japan, such as the ‘developmental state’ theory, the ‘trading state’ theory and the ‘flying geese paradigm’, have significantly enriched the IR research agenda. Prominent IR scholars also regard Japan as a unique and important case to enhance their theoretical work. Beyond external perspectives, this article, based on interviews with Japanese scholars and Japanese-language literature, examines how the Japanese academic community understands the debate between IR and AS and how Japanese Studies is positioned between the two disciplines. Finally, using Japan's pacifism and defence debates as examples, the article highlights how localized knowledge can serve as a bridge between IR and AS, particularly in the context of Japanese Studies.