Bondarenko Nikita

Historical politics in Japanese-Singapore relations

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2022, №1(54), 304-317

 
Annotation: The article analyses the influence of issues of the historical issues on the contemporary Japan-Singapore relations. The key features of the Singaporean memory about the World War Two are revealed. The connection between the contemporary Singaporean politics of memory and nation-building processes is explored. The contemporary Japanese approach to the policy towards SEA countries has been analysed. The author argues that Japan tries to reincarnate its idea of “Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere”. Therefore, it is important for Japan to put the past of the aggressive imperial policy out of the contemporary relations with Singapore, as well as with other countries of Southeast Asia. The absence of barriers in the Japan-Singapore relations due to the historical past is linked with specific features of the Singaporean politics of memory and “forgetting” strategy, which is used by both states.

Keywords: politics of memory, Japan, Singapore, Japan-Singapore relations, nation-building, forgetting strategy, World War Two