ABSTRACT
The introductory chapter seeks to provide a framework whereby EU–Japan security cooperation can be assessed. It also aims to investigate the underlying motives or drivers that facilitate or inhibit EU–Japan security cooperation. This will involve assessing the influence of internal (for example, Brexit) and external (for example, US influences) factors that affect EU–Japan security relations. Further, it explains why the EU, rather than EU member states, is chosen as the primary unit of analysis. In addition, it deals with the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of the study on EU–Japan security cooperation, paying particular emphasis to the concept of convergence. Whether or not the EU and Japan demonstrate (policy) convergence in one of the ten chosen security dimensions will be assessed by the degree of conformity between the two partners with regard to threat perception and associated policy response. Details will be provided on how levels of threat perception and degrees of security cooperation are assessed.
