This book analyzes the distinctive features of Japan's development aid, especially technical co-operation, in comparison with other donors' aid. It provides a wealth of material, and discusses important questions, such as whether Japan is behind other leading donor countries in rethinking its aid policy; whether Japan's aid programmes are too donor-led, and insufficiently consultative; whether Japan's aid over-emphasises technical co-operation, and assumes that aid means industrialisation, rather than giving due weight to social needs; and how far Japan's aid is focused on Asia. It assesses...

Filling a gap in the existing literature, this book analyzes the distinctive features of Japan's development aid, especially technical co-operation, in comparison with other donors' aid. Incorporating a wealth of research, it discusses whether Japan is behind other leading donor countries in rethinking its aid policy and whether it lacks transparency, sensitivity to recipient needs, and a coherent and coordinated policy that targets poverty.

The volume assesses the nature and effectiveness of the administration of Japan's aid, and explores the degree of involvement of private sector...

Japan's use of Soft power in its international politics is as yet understudied. Soft power presents as many challenges as promises. This book explores the way Japan uses soft power in its relationship with the US, its Asian neighbours and Europe and aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of soft power in international relations.

Hard power, on the other hand, is more tangible and has received far greater scholarly scrutiny than soft power. However, as this collection makes clear, hard power has its limitations and counterproductive consequences as an...

The Routledge Handbook of Africa-Asia Relations is the first handbook aimed at studying the interactions between countries across Africa and Asia in a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive way. Providing a balanced discussion of historical and on-going processes which have both shaped and changed intercontinental relations over time, contributors take a thematic approach to examine the ways in which we can conceptualise these two very different, yet inextricably linked areas of the world.

Using comparative examples throughout, the chronological sections cover:

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This book discusses the impact of China's rise on regional order at three levels: Sino-US relations, East Asia's contested sub regions and regional institutions.