It has been more than 30 years since the establishment of the Japan Society for International Development (JASID). During this period, the global agenda regarding foreign aid has undergone significant transformations, the motivations driving donor countries to provide foreign assistance have shifted, and the domestic social challenges faced by donor countries have also evolved. JASID cannot remain unaffected by these changes in the academic and social landscape.
The objective of this study group is to reframe the perspective on international development in Japan. By examining the genealogy of “development” theory in Japan from a multidisciplinary and multigenerational perspective, and while remaining attentive to the evolving circumstances surrounding Japan’s foreign aid stakeholders, we are going to construct a comprehensive view of “development” that can effectively address the challenges Japan will encounter in the medium term, such as population decline, fiscal pressures, and the securitization in international affairs.
The outcomes of the research group’s activities will be presented at spring and winter conferences and disseminated beyond JASID through journal submissions and edited books.