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On Defense, France Bites the Bullet, But Avoids Strategic Insolvency May 7, 2013
Iceland’s Recovery Saga Presents Opportunities for Brussels, Washington—and Beijing May 6, 2013
Which Way Forward for Europe’s Hybrid Regimes? May 2, 2013
The Arab Revolts and the Liberal Order May 2, 2013
Events
Andrew Light Speaker Tour in Europe May 14, 2013 / Berlin, Germany; Brussels, BelgiumGMF Senior Fellow Andrew Light participated in a speaking tour in Europe to discuss opportunities for transatlantic cooperation on climate and energy policy in the second Obama administration.
In this podcast, GMF Vice President of Programs Ivan Vejvoda discusses last month's historic agreement to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Anchor Elaine Reyes speaks with Andrew Small, Transatlantic Fellow of the Asia Program for the German Marshall Fund, about Beijing's potential role in brokering peace between Israel and Palestine
Yoshihiko Noda’s vision for Japan
September 13, 2011 / Ryo Sahashi
East Asia Forum
There is a strong tendency in Washington and other foreign capitals to believe that the Japanese politicians you know and that are practised in telling you what you want to hear are good, and that unfamiliar names are a bad sign for smooth international relations. The foreign media in particular seems to dislike Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s ‘humble attitude’ (describing himself as a ‘loach fish’ during his campaign for the leadership) and portray him as someone without vision and leadership. The reality is the Democratic Party of Japan’s new prime minister and foreign minister, Koichiro Gemba, both elected for the first time in 1993, have had much experience as politicians. Their performance since the DPJ took office in September 2009 suggests they are both capable and intelligent operators. Prime Minister Noda starts his tenure after two prime ministers have damaged the party’s political relationships with the bureaucracy, business executives and many interest group leaders, resulting in a paralysis of effective policy making. The DPJ now has to negotiate with the opposition parties, after losing Upper House elections, to make any legislative progress. A ‘humble attitude’ at this juncture could be a huge political asset. Certainly the Japanese public, and Japanese political culture, will likely welcome a bit of political humility. Read the full article here.
