The Informal Influence of Shinzo Abe on the Japanese Politics of Memory Towards the Republic of Korea

Politics of memory is becoming a strategic instrument of international relations. Japan actively uses the politics of memory. The most vividly Japan’s politics of memory is reflected in relations with the Republic of Korea. Japan and Korea have a long history of relations, which formed common civilizational values. However, two countries repeatedly clashed with each other. The period of the occupation of Korea by Japan (1910-1945) became the most painful in the history of relations of two countries. The politics of memory of Japan towards Korea is the most important tool for preserving the unique historical role of the state, which was almost destroyed after the defeat of Japan in the World War II. Moreover, the politics of memory is vital in resolving territorial dispute with Korea over the Liancourt Rocks. The Japanese politics of memory has gotten the new impact during the administration of Shinzo Abe. He is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Japan. His second administration has been lasting since 2012. Such long period allows Shinzo Abe to implement his own foreign policy strategy. Furthermore, prime minister Abe spread his net of informal politics to influence government decisions. Shinzo Abe has the strict position towards historical conflicts with Korea. Such view on the historical past is reflected in the Japanese politics of memory, which is the important tool in different disputes with Korea, especially in the territorial dispute. The last exacerbation of the territorial dispute was in 2019, when the Republic of Korea conducted military exercises near the Liancourt Rocks. This exacerbation was a result of trade war between countries because of the Korean lawsuit against Japanese companies, which forced Koreans labour to work during the World War II. The goal of my paper is to define the informal influence of Shinzo Abe on the the Japanese politics of memory towards the Republic of Korea. To reach this goal next tasks should be accomplished - to separate formal and informal ways of influence of Shinzo Abe on the politics of memory - to define the influence of Shinzo Abe speeches on the formal decisions of the Japanese government - to determine the influence of non-governmental organizations and communities, which are connected with prime minister Abe, on the politics of memory The content analysis will be applied on Abe speeches. Also among primary sources are international treaties, government documents, history schoolbooks of private schools of Shinzo Abe’s wife, statements of NGOs, which are connected with the territorial dispute with Korea and Japan’s Ministry of Defence annual white books will be used. I hypothesize that Shinzo Abe has the influence on the Japanese politics of memory towards the Republic of Korea through the channels of NGOs, private schools and as an opinion leader, when he promotes his personal view, which does not always correlate with the official position of the government, on the historical past during speeches, which has not reflected in official documents yet.