Japan's New Regional Reality: Geoeconomic Strategy in the Asia-Pacific by Saori N. Katada

Reviewed by: Japan's New Regional Reality: Geoeconomic Strategy in the Asia-Pacific by Saori N. Katada Hugo Dobson (bio) Asia-Pacific. By Katada. Columbia University Press, 2020. xviii, 326 pages. $140.00, cloth; $35.00, paper; $34.99, E-book. In June 2018, I was fortunate to take a select team of staff and students from my university Group 7 (G7) summit Quebec, Canada. For three days we worked international media center, following developments, attending press conferences, publishing blogs policy briefs. Throughout summit, rumors circulated among journalists with whom rubbed shoulders that for first time its history G7 not going agree on text final communiqué. The reason U.S. president at time, disrupter-in-chief, former reality TV star Donald Trump refusing allow statement which members committed themselves promotion rules-based order trading system, despite fact always makes this commitment summits is an integral part system. Nevertheless, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau able snatch victory jaws defeat announce jointly agreed communiqué his conference. Yet, fleeting victory, and, space one tweet Air Force One, managed issue counterpart withdraw endorsement middle diplomatic kerfuffle (or should be "covfefe"?), our analysts attend [End Page 226] Abe Shinzō's postsummit conference contrast, hear him extol position as "a standard bearer free trade … determined exercise strong leadership aimed spreading markets based fair rules throughout world, including through Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) economic partnership agreement (EPA) Europe."1 mention experience highlight innovative learning teaching initiative but rather point entry into excellent new volume Katada, explores forensic detail similar development geoeconomic strategy region. short, her argument "the Japanese government has, two decades since 1990s, shifted regional neomercantilism more liberal aims set establish institutions region's public good" (p. 1). This shift explained interplay domestic dynamics, both have changed dramatically 1990s. On hand, picture almost unrecognizable over period result rise China, U.S.-China friction, Japan assuming role poster child Comprehensive Progressive Agreement (CTPP) emerged out administration's withdrawal TPP 2017. other has also radically behaving much less dirigiste fashion businesses globalized economy been reformed. many us learned then taught Inc. iron triangle politics long gone. Instead, what are presented with—and Katada's key contribution—is "state-led strategy." characterized high level rule setting region" especially formal mechanisms 5), maturity efforts chart path between United States China can maintain voice shaping persuasive case importance finding. Not only does it capture unique provides potential model countries developmental states, even expect 6). book traces...