ABSTRACT Japan’s security policymaking has undergone change since 2012 amidst institutional reforms under the second Abe Shinzō administration. This article explores the under-appreciated role of informal political actors—especially heavyweight academics—in shaping Japanese security policymaking under the second Abe administration. Although these actors have always been present, this article argues that they have become more visible and influential, especially under the second Abe administration by supporting Japan’s Realpolitik stance. Differentiating from ‘embedded scholars’ (goyō gakusha), it scrutinises whether the activities of academics have become more relevant as part of a more centralised policymaking process. Considering the existing literature on Japan’s security policymaking and Kantei diplomacy, this article examines the extent to which informal political actors have exerted influence on Japan’s security policymaking, with explicit comparison with earlier governments. It particularly focuses on the role of Kitaoka Shin’ichi, a Japanese academic who has played the central role in shaping Japan’s security policymaking in the post-Cold War period. In so doing, this article explores the ways in which Abe’s Kantei-led political decision-making style has empowered informal political actors to contribute to strategic thinking regarding Japanese foreign and security policy.

中文翻译：

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非正式政治行动者在日本安全政策制定中的作用：北冈真一案例

摘要 自 2012 年以来，在安倍晋三第二届政府的体制改革中，日本的安全政策制定发生了变化。本文探讨了非正式政治行为者——尤其是重量级学者——在塑造安倍政府第二届日本安全政策制定中的作用被低估。尽管这些行为者一直都在场，但本文认为他们变得更加引人注目和影响力，尤其是在安倍第二政府时期，他们支持日本的现实政治立场。与“嵌入式学者”（goyō gakusha）不同，它审查学术活动是否已成为更集中的决策过程的一部分。考虑到关于日本安全决策和关帝外交的现有文献，本文与早期政府进行了明确的比较，研究了非正式政治行为者对日本安全决策施加影响的程度。它特别关注北冈真一的角色，这位日本学者在冷战后时期在塑造日本的安全政策制定方面发挥了核心作用。在此过程中，本文探讨了安倍的 Kantei 领导的政治决策风格如何赋予非正式政治行为者权力，为日本外交和安全政策的战略思考做出贡献。一位在冷战后时期在塑造日本安全政策制定方面发挥核心作用的日本学者。在此过程中，本文探讨了安倍的 Kantei 领导的政治决策风格如何赋予非正式政治行为者权力，为日本外交和安全政策的战略思考做出贡献。一位在冷战后时期在塑造日本安全政策制定方面发挥核心作用的日本学者。在此过程中，本文探讨了安倍的 Kantei 领导的政治决策风格如何赋予非正式政治行为者权力，为日本外交和安全政策的战略思考做出贡献。