"Relations between China and Japan, and indeed between states in East Asia and its wider region, are often described with little thought to agency and in terms of essentialised cultural determinants. While the events of the past certainly provide context to those international relations they cannot adequately explain variations over time or with policy areas. Through case studies focussing on Asia-Pacific regional institutions, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia the considerable worth of this volume is its focus on the the role of political actors in their respective domestic contexts and their strategic choices in shaping regional outcomes."
- David S. G. Goodman, Professor and Director, China Studies Centre, University of Sydney
State Identity Politics and the Making of East Asia offers a refreshing analysis of how domestic factors such as strong leadership and effective coalition building in China and Japan affect national identity formation and foreign policy formulation. Drawing on Neoclassic Realism, its agent-centred approach sheds light on the dynamic interplay between state identity politics and external environments that generates both constraints and opportunities for cooperation and conflict in East Asia.
- Jingdong Yuan, Senior Researcher and Director, SIPRI China and Asia Security Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
"In this well-researched and thought-provoking book, Minran Liu offers a bold and original reinterpretation of East Asias evolving regionalism through the lens of state identity politics. With a nuanced analysis of China and Japans shifting national identities, Liu shows how domestic political actors construct and reconstruct national narratives that shape each countrys regional policies. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex dynamics behind cooperation and conflict in East Asia."
- Jian Zhang, Professor, International & Political Studies, University of New South Wales
"This groundbreaking study, rich in both theoretical and empirical content, offers a unique exploration of the domestic dynamics involved in state identity formation. Liu delves deeply into the intricacies of "state identity politics" in China and Japan, shedding light on how these dynamics shape their bilateral relations and the broader strategic landscape of East Asia. This is a must-read for comprehending the current dynamics of Sino-Japanese rivalry and cooperation."
- Takeshi Yuzawa, Professor, Department of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies, Hosei University
"Taking a fresh but judicious approach to shed new light, Minran Liu focuses on state identity to explain the dynamics of China-Japan relations and assess larger questions of East Asian regionalism. Excellently organized both theoretically and through robust case studies, this first major work by a rising star scholar sparks new debate and deepens insights on the future of the world's most important region. "
- Bates Gill, Senior Fellow for Asian Security, National Bureau of Asian Research, and Senior Fellow, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research