Analysis of Japan’s Central Asia Policy in the Context of the Russia-Ukraine War from the Perspective of Functionalism

Abstract

Due to the interplay of various factors, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine and the changes in Afghanistan, the strategic importance of the five Central Asian countries has significantly increased. Following the Russia-Ukraine war, Japan’s Central Asia policy has focused on fostering spill-over effects and promoting political processes through functional cooperation in low-level political areas. To enhance communication, build trust, and seek political and economic interests, Central Asia’s foreign policy has been adjusted in several ways: improving and enriching the Official Development Assistance (ODA) mechanism for the region, and expanding cooperation from a single focus to a diversified range of fields.

Keywords

• russia-ukraine war
• japan
• central asia
• neofunctionalism