Geopolitics
3 items
Structural Analysis of Foreign Aid Budget Allocation: Does the ODA vs. Domestic Welfare Tradeoff Hold?
Starting from the recurring social media claim "spend it at home, not abroad," this article analyzes the scale gap between ODA and social security budgets, international comparisons across DAC countries, and the evolving structure of strategic ODA. The numbers show that eliminating ODA would barely dent social security funding — and the framing of the question itself needs reexamination.
Why Did the Henoko Boat Capsize Kill Two? Okinawa's Base Burden and Structural Violence
On March 16, 2026, two boats carrying high school students capsized off Henoko, killing two. With 70% of U.S. military bases concentrated on 0.6% of Japan's land, we examine the structural context behind the accident.
The Day the Strait Closes — Japan's Structural Vulnerability in Energy Security
In late February 2026, US-Israeli strikes on Iran led to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 93.5% of its crude oil imports, has its national security lifeline flowing through this strait where 20 million barrels pass daily. An analysis of the structural vulnerability that a 204-day reserve cannot solve.