The overarching aim of the thesis is to present a framework that makes possible an understanding of bilateral relations that challenges mainstream International Relations (IR) approaches through a study of the “history issue” in Sino-Japanese relations. A secondary aim is to provide an alternative understanding of this issue. Discussions of the issue are often highly influenced by the objectivism, rationalism, state-centrism and agent-centrism common in mainstream IR theory. This has several consequences, primarily that the focus is chiefly on behaviour and that equal emphasis is rarely put on both contexts. In order to address these consequences, the question of what kinds of narrative, as expressed in museum exhibitions about war in both countries, can be found and which ones dominate is addressed using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The narratives, which contain the stories “we” tell about “our” past, are important components in and instantiate the abstract images that are identities, through which people make sense of the world. The context-sensitive analysis confirms the constructivist assumption that narratives matter by demonstrating that political actors strongly believe narratives shape people’s minds and act accordingly. It also shows that different narratives are present in both countries. It is suggested that the narratives are closely linked to domestic identity politics. Nonetheless, the depiction of self and other in these has consequences for bilateral relations. This has several implications, for example, that changes in the behaviour of leaders, while they may have a positive impact on relations, are insufficient as solutions to the problems. This has consequences for approaches preoccupied with behaviour. The study contributes to constructivist IR through a close textual analysis of narrative structure that illustrates the significance of labelling and categorizing in identity construction that is easily missed by less fine-grained analyses.

小泉時期全力支援美國小布希總統的全球反恐戰爭，透過強化美日同盟，成功提升日本在美日同盟的功能與角色，朝向正常國家之路邁進。小泉每年參拜靖國神社興起了日本的民族主義，但也造成了中日關係的惡化，進而加深了日本在加入聯合國安理會常任理事國上的難度，也成為中國大規模反日運動的導火線。在中日關係上，從二戰後就一直存在著歷史上的仇恨問題，以及地緣政治因素，中日兩國在領土紛爭及資源分配等政治經濟的議題上，始終有著既合作又競爭的複雜關係。小泉時期因為911反恐浪潮強化了追隨美國路線，使得美日間友好關係展現了前所未有的高潮，同時也使中日關係產生了前所未有的「政冷經熱」的詭異現象。 本文認為，小泉的追隨美國路線的外交政策或是在推動正常國家政策上，必然會對造成中日關係上的影響，但是在推動正常國家政策上中國的支持又不可或缺，進而日本需要調整對中政策才能達成目標。小泉時期的追隨美國路線，係以什麼基準考量推動對中政策？其對中政策又如何去影響中日關係？中日關係的變化是否又會對日本的對中政策有所改變？值得我們深加研究。 / During the Koizumi administration, Japan's normalized country policies strongly supported George W. Bush's Global War on Terror to increase its role in the U.S.-Japan alliance. In addition, Koizumi also made the formal visit to the Yasukuni Shrine every year and raised Japanese nationalism. Together, these acts have contributed to the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations, deepened the difficulty of Japan's accession to the United Nations Security Council permanent members, and become the main cause of China's large-scale anti-Japanese movement. Since World War II, Sino-Japanese relations have been characterized by historical hatred and geopolitical factors. In territorial disputes, resource allocation, and other political and economic issues, China and Japan always have a complex relationship with both cooperation and competition. During the Koizumi period, Japan's pro-American policy was strengthened due to the wave of anti-terrorism following 911, which lead to an unprecedented climax in U.S.-Japan friendship. Meanwhile, Sino-Japanese relations experienced an unprecedented and strong phenomenon of "Cold Politics-Hot Economics." Koizumi's pro-American foreign policy or Normalization policy has significantly influenced Sino-Japanese relations. To promote normalization, however, China's support is also indispensable to Japan. Thus, Japan needs to adjust its policy to achieve its goals. This research explores the basis through which the Koizumi administration evaluate its China policy under a pro-American foreign policy guideline. How Japan's China policy influences Sino-Japanese relations and whether the change in Sino-Japanese relations will then change Japan's China policy are also worth our further discussions.

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This thesis deals with the beginnings of the Japanese nationalism. It examines the role of the Sino- Japanese war of 1894-1895 in these beginnings in relation to other national consciousness forming factors. Govermental activities, such as education system and army reforms, and the effort to stress the emperor as a symbol of the Japanese people, and also activities of the intelectual strata, who influenced the society mainly through journalism, were especially prominent among them. It stresses the importance of the period media (newspapers, illustrated magazines, woodcut prints) and early modern theatre to the spread of the national consciousness among masses. It also shows how the way the war was conveyed in the media influenced the view the Japanese had of themselves and of the neighbouring countries. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)