【Seminar Report】Strategic Use of 'Human Security'?: Why Did Abe Refer to 'Human Security' so often?

On Thursday, 2022 June 23th, a hybrid lecture by Prof. Adachi from Graduate School of International Relations Ritsumeikan University was provided at the CAPS seminar. His presentation tittle is: “Strategic Use of ‘Human Security’? Why Did Abe Refer to ‘Human Security’ So often? Example of Traditional and New Text Analysis.”

In his lecture, Prof. Adachi explained about what human security is and why did Japan promote Human Security, further Prof. Adachi, explained that Human Security is a pillar of Japan’s diplomacy since PM Keizo Obuchi.

Prof. Adachi explained that his research topic is to analyze why Japan promoted human security. And the methodology of the research is using the text analysis methodology (text analysis traditional and new). In the lecture He explained, what is traditional text analysis and new text analysis. Traditional text analysis is read all the speeches PMs made referring Human Security and need deep understanding of the context. And new text analysis is Quantitative text analysis by using computer processing speed, Natural language processing technology such as software KH Coder etc.

The lecture concludes with a Q&A session, during which Prof. Adachi and members of the audience went back and forth to dissect several questions such as what are the challenges using the traditional or new text analysis? What are the advantages and disadvantages from traditional and new text analysis methodology, what the solution to counter the argument who said that the traditional text analysis is not scientific enough?

Written by Yusy Widarahesty (Doctor Student at Graduate School of International Relations)