<p>Abstract</p><p>Essay in political science, C-level, by Bo-Josef Eriksson, spring semester 2007</p><p>Tutor: Susan Marton</p><p>”Universal morality - does it exist? - A case study of small states foreign policy”</p><p>The purpose of this essay is to examine how well does realism stand of against idealism when the focus of the study is on small states foreign policy? The essay takes it’s starting point at the debate between the two theories of international relations (IR). Realism is the theory that has had the most impact on the study of IR since the second world war. Idealism has been it’s greatest opponent and the debate is still active even up til this day.</p><p>My case study of Danmarks foreign aid policy constitutes a worst critical case scenario for realism and therfore my assumptions were that idealism would be the theory that could explain the core-elements of the Danish foregin aid. Core-elements is the caracteristic of the different theory’s and the core-elements of idealism is the oposite of those of realism. The actual examination-material is the policy documnts of Danida. Danida stands for; Danish International Development Assistance, and it’s an department under the Danish ministry of foreign affairs.</p><p>The answer to if Danida’s foreign aid policy is based on realistic or idealisti core-elements is that it is based on idealistic core-elements. So to answer the purpose realism didn’t stand that well of when the focus were on a small states foreign policy. The limitations of my study lies in the fact that it’s an qualitative research which means that you may have som problem with generalisations so to be able to say something about all small states there will have to be more research done in this particular area.</p>

Japan adopted a new legislation in 2016 which indicated a shift in Japanese security and foreign policy. Since the end of World War 2, the Japanese constitution has renounced war, threat, or use of force as a means of settling international disputes with other nations. Possessing military capabilities for anything other than self-defense were also restricted. This has caused several implications for Japan's foreign policy. While it allowed for more resources to be allocated to the reconstruction of the country after World War 2, Japan could never send its troops abroad to defend Japanese nationals or allies. However, that changed in 2014 when Shinzo Abe and his government began working on reinterpreting the constitution leading to the 2015 defense legislation “Legislation for Peace and Security” which allowed Japan for the first time in 70 years to send troops overseas to its allies for collective self-defense. This study is an analysis of the decision making process behind the Japanese foreign policy decision to expand its military’s capabilities and international cooperation. This study utilises foreign policy analysis to analyse both domestic and international factors which could have contributed to the Japanese foreign policy decision.  This study's conclusions were based on several factors: Firstly, the change in the geopolitical landscape in East Asia as a result of an emerging China and the beheading of two Japanese journalists, highlighted the restrictions imposed by article 9. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces wouldn’t be able to cooperate militarily with its allies, nor could it help its nationals abroad. With the help of its majorities in both the upper and lower houses of the National Diet, Abe’s government was able to expand the capabilities of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces whilst still maintaining Japan’s pacifist security policy. The Legislation for Peace and Security was perceived to not challenge the decades of Japanese pacifism whilst strengthening Japan's military capabilities.

Abstract Essay in political science, C-level, by Bo-Josef Eriksson, spring semester 2007 Tutor: Susan Marton ”Universal morality - does it exist? - A case study of small states foreign policy” The purpose of this essay is to examine how well does realism stand of against idealism when the focus of the study is on small states foreign policy? The essay takes it’s starting point at the debate between the two theories of international relations (IR). Realism is the theory that has had the most impact on the study of IR since the second world war. Idealism has been it’s greatest opponent and the debate is still active even up til this day. My case study of Danmarks foreign aid policy constitutes a worst critical case scenario for realism and therfore my assumptions were that idealism would be the theory that could explain the core-elements of the Danish foregin aid. Core-elements is the caracteristic of the different theory’s and the core-elements of idealism is the oposite of those of realism. The actual examination-material is the policy documnts of Danida. Danida stands for; Danish International Development Assistance, and it’s an department under the Danish ministry of foreign affairs. The answer to if Danida’s foreign aid policy is based on realistic or idealisti core-elements is that it is based on idealistic core-elements. So to answer the purpose realism didn’t stand that well of when the focus were on a small states foreign policy. The limitations of my study lies in the fact that it’s an qualitative research which means that you may have som problem with generalisations so to be able to say something about all small states there will have to be more research done in this particular area.