Japan's Philosophy of Self-Help Efforts in International Development Cooperation : Does It Work in Africa?

Sawamura Nobuhide

国際教育協力論集

Journal of International Cooperation in Education

[PISSN] 1344-2996

[EISSN] 1344-7998

[NCID] AA11281847

Japan has emerged as a leading actor in international assistance but has often been seen as peripheral to major debates about aid and development. This paper explores Japan's distinctive aid philosophy of supporting the self-help efforts of developing countries while respecting autonomous development and examines the distinct contribution Japan can make to these debates. In order to develop such an argument it is necessary to look into Japan's own recent history of development and the idea of self-help in Japanese society. It is also important to understand the Japanese tradition of perseverance, which differs from traditions of other aid-providing countries. Japanese aid modalities and practices have been supported by these cultural values. The Japanese challenge is to demonstrate the validity of self-help efforts and the possibility of self-reliant development in the most deprived areas.

Education [ 370 ]

eng

広島大学教育開発国際協力研究センター

Copyright (c) 2004 「国際教育協力論集」編集委員会

[ISSN] 1344-2996

[NCID] AA11281847