How We Can Share Hope with Africans
Toward realization of genuine human security
Japan has excelled at providing support to the nation-building and human resource development of developing countries, has emphasized the viewpoint of human security and has committed itself to post-conflict peace consolidation in various countries. The country thus looks toward the weakest people in weak countries in providing support. In his address to the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Noda said, “In its experience of the massive earthquake in March, Japan became newly aware of the importance of bonds with the people of the world. We have come to realize fully how important the responsibility to be fulfilled by each individual is to a society. We have never felt more strongly the significance of promoting human security.” This is symbolized by the fact that safety and security, which were taken for granted like the air, collapsed in a moment from the earthquake, and the Japanese people are now in a position of receiving, not providing, support under the principle of human security, regarded as a guiding principle of Japan’s international cooperation.
Frankly speaking, we can never say that the former administration responded to the earthquake by listening directly to people, offering words that reach people’s hearts, or promptly extending them a helping hand to restore their hope. The question that the Japanese government, including both the ruling and opposition parties, must now answer is whether the term “human security” was merely political rhetoric, or instead, the government can overcome even political risks to provide the most appropriate support for people determined to carry on their lives in the national crisis. And we are now required to carry out genuine human security; that is, we are required to provide every possible form of support to those in Africa in the midst of ongoing hardship, though their hardships differ from those we face, while working together toward restoring own country, so that we can share hope for a better future with the people of Africa.
Translated from “Afurika no hitobito to ‘kibo’ wo wakachiau tameni,” KOMEI, November 2011, pp 30–35 (Courtesy of Organ Paper Committee of New Komeito)
HOSHINO Toshiya (Professor, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University)
Born 1959 in Gunma Prefecture. Completed undergraduate studies at Sophia University, obtained an M.A. in International Studies (The University of Tokyo), and Ph.D. in International Public Policy (Osaka University).
His previous positions include: Senior research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs; visiting fellow, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University and guest scholar at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. From 2006 to 2008, he served as a minister-counselor in charge of political affairs at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. Among his many publications, he has co-authored Heiwa seisaku [Building peace] and Kokusai koukyou seisaku nyuumon [Introduction to international public policy].
