About the Author

Richard J. Samuels is Ford International Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Reviews

"Richard Samuels clarifies the international and domestic factors that are shaping the options and choices facing Tokyo and the implications that an emerging strategic consensus in Japan carries for the U.S. alliance and relations in East Asia. Samuels shows how international constraints and domestic politics have been interacting since the late 19th century, filtering and framing security policy choices. He argues that through all the fluctuations-and Samuels is a very astute guide through these zigs and zags"The search for prestige and autonomy have been the constants. He concludes that they are now within Japan's grasp."-Jeff Kingston, Nov. 18, 2007, The Japan Times "Samuels's book is a valuable reminder that sovereignty has never been far from the top of Japan's national security agenda, even when Japan had hugged the U.S. so closely that it seemed to have become an 'abnormal' country. Samuels is especially good at outlining the gamut of opinion from the Gaullists on the far right to those who cling to the remnants of the Yoshida Doctrine of 'mercantile realism.' He also points out that the Gaullist right is now joining with the traditional left in opposing the existance of U.S. bases in Japan as an intolerable affront to sovereignty."-Robyn Lim, October 2007, Far Eastern Economic Review "Richard J. Samuels is a master of understanding and explaining Japan's emerging place in the world. To me, this book is as valuable as his earlier influential studies on the ideological-and technological-origins of Japan's military policies. In addition to being persuasive, it is a pleasure to read."-James Fallows, author of Blind Into Baghdad "In his excellent new book, Richard J. Samuels, one of our preeminent analysts of Japanese politics, brings his skills to bear on the security debates in Japan and helps us understand the policy options it has in a turbulent new era."-Kenneth B. Pyle, author of Japan Rising: The Resurgence of Japanese Power and Purpose "Feeling threatened by China and North Korea, and worried about America's reliability, Japan is beginning to act like a normal great power. Where this leads is not clear. Fortunately Richard J. Samuels has come to our rescue with this outstanding book, which clearly describes Tokyo's options and their likely consequences for East Asia and the United States."-John J. Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago "In Securing Japan, Richard J. Samuels links Japan's current strategic thinking and policy to its past history, dissects the domestic strategic debate, and explores the various factors that will shape Japan's new strategic consensus. This book will be of keen interest to non-Japan or non-Asia specialists in the international relations and international security fields."-Mike M. Mochizuki, The George Washington University