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"New conventional wisdom posits that the public in democracies is inattentive but not really ignorant nor easily swayed, and indeed quite consistent and thoughtful when it comes to national security and foreign policy issues. This volume builds on such a claim to study the attributes and impacts of public opinion on foreign and national security policy in six democracies: Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Ukraine, Finland and West Germany. These countries face acute and sustained national security challenges posed by stronger authoritarian regimes close by, namely China, North Korea, the Arab nations, Russia and the Soviet Union. Given potential existential threats to their democracies, the public is typically tuned in, and in sorting out their policy stands, is mindful that the fundamental values of identity, sovereignty and prosperity may be jeopardized. Public opinion can indeed constrain statecraft here in these democracies ensnared in asymmetric dyads. Many have studied public opinion and national security in democracies, but few have studied national security strategy of weak powers confronting great powers. This volume is the first attempt to examine this topic. The approach here is a comparative rather than country-specific study combining qualitative and quantitative research methods to enrich our understanding of the complexity and intrigues of the interplay between public opinion and national security under the condition of regime asymmetry. The wealth of data and careful examination of various issues from different theoretical approaches makes this volume an essential guide for courses and research in comparative foreign policy, international relations and democratic processes."--Publisher's website

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Tables -- Preface -- 1. Introduction -- Part I: Great Powers and Their Neighbors -- 2. The U.S.-PRC Relationship: Engagement versus Containment, or Engagement With Containment -- 3. The U.S. Asia-Pacific Security Strategy for the Twenty-First Century -- 4. Japan's Military Cooperation and Alliances in the Asia-Pacific Region: Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation -- 5. The PRC-Japan Relationship: Heading for a Collision?

Anhand der institutionellen Arrangements innerhalb des politischen Systems in der Republik China (Taiwan) überprüft der Autor den aktuellen Stand im Demokratisierungsprozeß des Landes und sucht nach Hinweisen auf den Grad der demokratischen Konsolidierung. Seine Betrachtungen zum Wandel von sechs zentralen Kriterien/Spielregeln in der politischen Kultur (demokratische Verfassung, Anerkennung ziviler Kontrolle über das Militär, faires und kompetitives Wahlsystem, Parteiensystem, repräsentative Legislative, Beziehungen zwischen Staat und Gesellschaft) führen ihn zu dem Schluß, daß die institutionelle Transformation hin zur Demokratie abgeschlossen ist, der Beweis für die erfolgte Konsolidierung allerdings bis zu einem Machtwechsel (Abwahl der GMD) noch aussteht. (FUB/APCh-Emn)