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Association of Scholars Opposed to the Security-related Laws

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The Association of Scholars Opposed to the Security-related Laws (安全保障関連法に反対する学者の会), previously known as the Association of Scholars Opposed to the Security-related Bills (安全保障関連法案に反対する学者の会), is an organization of scholars opposed to Japan's 2015 military legislation, which was founded in June 2015.

History

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The Shinzo Abe cabinet pushed for a constitutional amendment in 2015 to allow Japanese military forces to intervene in foreign conflicts, despite popular opposition.[1] As a reaction to that event, Professor Manabu Satō founded the organization in June 2015.[2] The organization has been acting together with the Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy (SEALDs) during the summer of 2015, organizing protests against the constitutional changes.[2]

As of September 2015, 14,232 scholars across Japan have signed up to join the organization, with more than 32,000 supporters and 100 university groups associated.[3][4] On September 6, the association and SEALDs together organized a mass rally in Shinjuku, where a total of about 12,000 demonstrators attended.[5] On September 19, the bill was passed by the Diet.[6] Six days later, the organization changed its name to the current name, saying in the name-changing statement that it would "step forward to a movement that will not allow this unconstitutional legislation to be applied and will push for its repeal."[7]

On December 20, the organization co-founded the Civil Alliance for Peace and Constitutionalism with the SEALDs, Save Constitutional Democracy Japan, Mothers Against War and All Out Action Committee (Sogakari).[8][9]

On October 4, 2020, five years later, Yoshihide Suga refused to approve six scholars (Sadamichi Ashina, Shigeki Uno, Masanori Okada, Ryuichi Ozawa, Takaaki Matsumiya, Yoko Kato) who attended the association to join the Science Council of Japan.[10] Many, including many academics, suspect this rejection of appointment was due to the six academics' opposition to the government's policies, especially the 2015 military legislation. Suga denied that the refusal was politically driven, but gave no specific reason.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Japan military legislation changes draw protests". BBC News. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b Chen, Weitseng; Fu, Hualing (16 July 2020). Authoritarian Legality in Asia: Formation, Development and Transition. Cambridge University Press. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-108-49668-1. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. ^ Falch, Daniel; Hammond, Christopher D. (7 August 2020). "Social activism and 'spaces of autonomy' in the context of Japan: an analysis of the student movement known as SEALDs". Globalisation, Societies and Education. 18 (4): 435–448. doi:10.1080/14767724.2020.1762167. ISSN 1476-7724. S2CID 219434170. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  4. ^ Chiavacci, David; Obinger, Julia (12 December 2019). Social Movements and Political Activism in Contemporary Japan: Re-emerging from Invisibility. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-367-88909-8. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  5. ^ Kingston, Jeff (7 September 2015). "SEALDs: Students Slam Abe's Assault on Japan's Constitution". The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus. 13 (36): 7. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  6. ^ Soble, Jonathan (18 September 2015). "Japan's Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  7. ^ Kitano, Ryuichi (20 November 2015). "「学者の会」が安保法への抗議声明発表 １７０人が会見" ["Association of Scholars" issued a statement of protest against the Security Law. 170 people attended the meeting]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2022. 法成立を受けて会の名称のうち「安全保障関連法案」から「案」の字を除いた「安全保障関連法に反対する学者の会」と改め、今後は「この違憲立法の適用を許さず廃止へ追い込む運動へと歩みを進める」とする抗議声明を発表した。 [In response to the passage of the law, the group changed its name to the 'Association of Scholars Opposing the Security-related Laws' by replacing the word 'bills' from 'security-related bills,' and issued a statement of protest stating that from now on it will 'move forward with a movement that will not allow this unconstitutional legislation to be applied and will push for its abolition.']
  8. ^ "反安保５団体：市民連合設立 参院選・野党統一候補支援で" [Five anti-security law groups: Civil Alliance has been established to support united opposition candidates for the elections.]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 20 December 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  9. ^ Northey, Jake (22 September 2021). "Where Are Japan's Policy Entrepreneurs?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  10. ^ "PM Suga refuses to appoint 6 scholars to Science Council of Japan in unprecedented move". Mainichi Shimbun. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Over 370 groups oppose Suga's Science Council rejections". The Asahi Shimbun. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
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