In technological fields, including advanced technologies, the United States continues to maintain a high level of international superiority. However, this technological advantage does not necessarily translate into the stability of the international order or the sustainability of international cooperation. One reason for this is the instability of U.S. domestic politics. With each change of administration, policies and approaches to international engagement can shift, making sustained commitment to international rules and cooperation more vulnerable to disruption.

Non-military fields such as climate change, trade, human rights, migration, speech, media, and communications are particularly susceptible to domestic political divisions and policy shifts, making policy continuity difficult to maintain. Such fluctuations reduce predictability for allies and increase uncertainty in their external conduct.

U.S.–Japan cooperation in the military and security fields remains strong. At the same time, however, growing uncertainty in these non-military fields risks weakening the two countries’ day-to-day and practical cooperation, and may erode the social, human, and institutional foundations that underpin the broader cooperative relationship.

This study group will therefore examine how changes in U.S. domestic politics and social perceptions are affecting the foundations of U.S.–Japan cooperation in non-military fields. It will analyze the perception gaps that exist between Japan and the United States, the degree of resilience within the institutional foundations that support U.S.–Japan cooperation, and the ways in which these foundations are being strained or worn down. Through this analysis, the study group will explore how sustainable U.S.–Japan cooperation can be maintained.

To achieve these objectives, this study group conducts research and analysis centered on the following members.

This study group is implemented with support from various sources, including a grant from the Japan Foundation.