The linkages between psycho-cultural perceptions and foreign policy behaviour: a study of Japanese images of Africa

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Periodical article

Title:	The linkages between psycho-cultural perceptions and foreign policy behaviour: a study of Japanese images of Africa
Author:	Owoeye, Jide
Year:	1986
Periodical:	Genève-Afrique: acta africana
Volume:	24
Issue:	2
Pages:	119-136
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Africa Japan
Subjects:	images foreign policy
Abstract:	Japan's cognitive image of Africa is largely negative due to the pervasive ignorance among the Japanese of the realities of present-day Africa. Only those countries in Africa which are important to Japan's domestic requirement of raw materials and market outlets, are able to attract the attention of the Japanese. Perhaps this is why Japan's African policy is faced with a series of dilemmas, which include: 1) Japan's refusal to back the Afro-Asian stance on the strategy to be adopted towards solving the South African problem; 2) Japan's inability to balance its trade with its African partners; 3) the pervasive perception in Africa that Japan lacks any real interest in the development efforts of African countries as evidenced in the low level of Japan's economic aid to the region. Conscious attempts should be made on both sides to establish a genuine dialogue at the cultural level. Notes, ref., sum. in English, German, and French.