3.11 AND PUBLIC OPINION OF THE JAPANESE SELF-DEFENSE FORCES: TRENDING TOWARD NORMALIZATION?

<p>Veronica M. Kennedy’s thesis at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, had the twin goals of exploring what effects from humanitarian assitance/disaster relief operations (HA/DR) by the JSDF had on public opionion of the organization, and whether any such changes had a measurable impact on normalizaton through changes in security policy. A key point underlying Kennedy’s work is her view that while public opinion is complex, nuannced and highly circumstantial, its role is vital in ensuring continued democtratic control of the armed forces in Japan. She provides data highlighted an improved public perception the JSDF immediately following the events of 3/11 which was sustained at above average levels since then. The JSDF’s role in 3/11 also gave its members a sense of purpose and recognition heretofore not experienced previously. In that sense, while tragic in nature, 3/11 provided an opportunity for JSDF to prove its capabilities and reaffirming its legitimacy to the Japanese people while avoiding the public criticism that TEPCO and other politicians faced in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Her research also recognized parallels with 3/11 and other countries experiencing similar disasters. Finally, while the impact of the JSDF’s role in the disaster on recruitment and security policy was too early to tell, and it could not serve as the basis for remilitarization by itself, its effect on normalization, based on reevaluation of current policy and improved public perception, was “small yet unmistakable.”</p>