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Vincent Kelly Pollard

Answers to interview questions on Globalization, Democratization and Asian Leadership: Power Sharing, Foreign Policy and Society in the Philippines and Japan by Kapi‘o journalist Crystal Carpenito, 20 April 2004.

1. Why did you write your book?

Three reasons. First, Globalization, Democratization and Asian Leadership shares what I learned about the social politics of foreign policy making in two important representative democracies -- the Republic of the Philippines and Japan. Second, I'd like to stimulate discussion and debate about how best to extend democratic theory and its practical applications. And third, I hope to encourage students, teachers, journalists, political activists and even government officials to consider the impact of power sharing in foreign policy making.

2. Why should people, especially KCC students, be concerned with this subject?

In representative democracies like the United States, Japan and the Philippines, citizens elect some of the more important government officials. These government officials take actions internationally. Sometimes these officials claim that they are acting in the name of everyone in the society.

That's fine if you agree. But what do you do when you do not agree? Of course, you could sit around, twiddle your thumbs, be frustrated, and wait until the next election.

But even aside from elections, citizens need to know that there are ways in which they can affect the direction of foreign policy. Examples from this book can be useful to teachers. From the perspectives of participants and observers, the book summarizes a range of tactics used by civil society groups and government officials.

3. What type of reader do you think will be interested by your book?

Four groups of readers come to mind.

Journalists and classroom teachers are the first group, especially if they specialize in world and Asian history, sociology, political science or world politics. A second group -- government officials -- will be interested. Also, Globalization, Democratization and Asian Leadership should be studied by members of local and transnational activist groups.

Finally, students writing term papers or preparing for debates might consult the table of contents and comb the index! Now or in the future, the bookÕs reference list (bibliography) alone will save students a lot of time.

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4. What knowledge should readers have before reading your book?

This book makes foreign policy making less mysterious. Readers interested in understanding how society affects foreign policy will be able to understand the book.

Also, after completing the book, I wrote a "Preface" to make the entire book more accessible.

5. What knowledge will a reader gain after reading your book?

The core argument is straightforward: Pay attention to how adeptly — cluelessly — power is shared.

In representative democracies, foreign policy making powers are shared willingly and unwillingly, inside and outside the government, and even inside and outside the society. Foreign policy case histories focused on the quality of power sharing will show you the key to success and failure in foreign policy making in representative democracies.

Also, let me refer Kapi'o readers to a summary and table of contents.

Beyond all this, I learned once more the value of rewriting

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6. What is the most important aspect of your book?

This question overlaps with the previous question. To a considerable extent, what the reader gains depends on who she is and what she is looking for. In any case, most foreign policy analysis ignores society. In fact, government and nongovernmental foreign policy makers are part of the same society. The book reveals how they interact with helpful and not-so-helpful social forces.

More specifically, the reader will learn of an overlooked flaw in the heart of President Ferdinand Marcos's greatest foreign policy achievement. Then in the context of a redemocratizing post-Marcos Philippines under President Corazon Aquino, the reader will be treated to an in-depth account of how opponents of foreign military bases skillfully used widespread concern about Americans' weapons of mass destruction to prevent renewal of the Military Bases Agreement in 1991. Twenty years earlier, most observers would have laughed at this possibility! The reader will also learn how small groups of Japanese women, environmentalists and human rights activists succeeded — and failed — to influence Japan's Official Development Assistance ("foreign aid") in Asia.

Again, clueful and not-so-clueful power sharing is the key to all these stories.

7. What research did you do to write this book?

Lots! This book represents several years of my life, including time and effort devoted to learning a new language.

More specifically, in involved analysis of published and unpublished documents, newspapers, journal articles, books and videotapes. With the support of two FLAS Fellowships and a Fulbright grant, I conducted interviews with government officials, political activists, journalists and other experts from three countries.

Also, I used the Freedom-of-Information Act to have 832 pages of U.S. Embassy cablegrams to the State Department declassified within less than ten years from when these messages were first dispatched. And to anticipate a question, VERY little was "whited-out" from these once-secret documents. This, in turn, led to discovery of an intelligence failure by the U.S. Embassy's Political Section personnel!

8. When will your book come out?

According to an e-mail just received from my Desk Editor at Ashgate Publishing Ltd., copies of Globalization, Democratization and Asian Leadership will be available on 24 May 2004.

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9. Will there be a release party?

Stay tuned! For now, hey, I'm still trying to finish the semester. I'm still reading student papers, writing handouts and video viewing guides for courses in three different departments on two campuses.

However, my academic "godmother" -- teaching on another campus on this island -- also promised me a party! There may also be a party at conferences that I will be attending.

10. Where will your book be sold?

Librarians and other faculty can order directly from the publisher or through Border's.

11. What is the price of your book?

Since the book will first be out in hardcover, students might do well to wait till the library gets a copy. For a preview, there's a summary and table of contents with a link to advance comments and an order form.....

And thanks for interviewing me! The opportunity is appreciated.