Author Archives: Luke Austin

Luke Austin has recently completed his MA with distinction in Governance and Global Affairs at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). He wrote his master’s dissertation on the levels of consistency and contradiction between actual policy-making and political discourse in the framework of EU-Russia relations. Luke also holds a BA in Japanese and Russian from the University of Leeds. He has previously interned for the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) in Moscow.

Japan: a master of soft balancing?

Luke Austin December 16, 2020 Asia and Pacific, Latest Articles, Security and Defence

Despite the storm of attention generated by the regeneration of Japan's hard power capabilities under Shinzo Abe, the concept of 'soft balancing' may provide a better theoretical approach to understanding Japan's approach to international relations

A frozen flashpoint: how will the Kuril Islands dispute affect Russo-Japanese relations following Suga’s election?

Luke Austin November 14, 2020 Asia and Pacific, Latest Articles, Security and Defence

There has been extensive discussion of the challenges faced by Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. One major issue facing Suga which has not been analysed in depth is the ongoing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan concerning the ownership of the southern Kuril Islands.

The Rise of Suga: Prospects and Problems for Japan’s New Prime Minister

Luke Austin October 22, 2020 Asia and Pacific, Latest Articles, Uncategorized

Shinzo Abe has caused a significant commotion recently with his resignation. What has perhaps caused just as much of a disturbance is the election of his successor, a veteran LDP politician of more humble origins by the name of Yoshihide Suga.