Bert Edström
Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Bert Edström is a Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Program at ISDP. His main areas of expertise are Japanese foreign and security policy and Japanese domestic politics.
Dr. Edström has a Ph.D. in Japanese Studies from Stockholm University (1988), an M.S.Sc (1974) and B.A. (1971) from the same university. His dissertation dealt with national role conceptions ascribed to Japan nationally and internationally.
Dr. Edström worked as an administrator and researcher at Stockholm University. With Torbjörn Lodén he initiated the East Asian Area Studies Program at Stockholm University and served as the first Director of the Program. He later served as Director of the Center for Pacific Asia Studies 1989-92 at the same university. In 2000 he left the university and established a consulting company but continued research part time as a Senior Research Fellow at Göteborg University.
Dr. Edström is the author of books on Japan’s foreign policy and has published extensively on Swedish-Japanese relations. He has also written numerous articles and research reports on security policy issues and modern Japanese history.
Publications by Bert Edström
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Future of Drug Policy: Real Solutions Grounded in Global Evidence
Japan is a country well-known for its well-organized society, economic successes, advanced technology, exquisite food, and sophisticated art. Yet, one of its remarkable successes seems to be largely unknown to […]
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The forgotten success story: Japan and the methamphetamine problem
This paper examines Japan’s policy towards methamphetamine (Japanese: hiropon). Opium has been used in Japan for medicinal purposes since 1722. However, it was strictly controlled. The result was that drug […]
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Japan and Illicit Drugs: A Neglected Success Story
While having witnessed three so-called epidemics in its postwar history, the prevalence of drug abuse in Japan is in fact remarkably low compared to most other countries and constitutes a […]
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Hostage to History: Japan-South Korea Relations
With the two leaders of Japan and South Korea having failed to hold an official meeting between them since coming to office, historical issues remain a thorn in the the […]
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Post-Election Japan: PM Abe Likely to Be Firm but Flexible on Senkaku
The LDP won a landslide in Japan’s Lower House elections on December 16. Shinzo Abe will be appointed prime minister later this month. With the election campaign over, it’s time […]