This project aims to sketch world's views on the alliance with the U.S. and its roles in shaping regional and global order, through a series of dialogues with experts on international relations and foreign policy from those American allied or partnered countries. The project outcome will be shared by publishing a series of working papers on the website as well as by an edited volume from a prestigious publisher.
　Each project's participant is expected to discuss their designated country's grand strategy and the role of alliance, or partnership with the U.S.; its perception and way of management with the U.S.; its vision on sub-regional, regional and global order and the relationship between such vision and the relationship with the U.S.
　Since no two American allies have either a similar strategic environment or a same way of alliance management with Washington, it is critical to develop a framework to discuss and contrast various perspectives among American partners, but the process of this project and the publications should merit their own debates on future vision on alliance and order. The project would also contribute for the American audience to deepen their understanding on allies and partners, and to help review their coalition-building strategy.

　Facing increasing difficulties and challenges of security environment in East Asia, such as China's reinforcement of military capabilities and North Korea's development of nuclear warheads and missiles, Japan-U.S. Alliance has been strengthened recent years. Among other U.S. Allies and partners, Japan has remained a strong believer of the alliance with the U.S. However, it is doubtful that all American allies and partners share same views, having their own historical context with the U.S. and own ideas on order and principles.
　The discourses over American commitment to sustain regional security as well as liberal international order have been discussed in Europe and Asia especially after the election of Mr. Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S. Hence, they could differ in losing the confidence on the durability of American leadership in the world due to the historical relationship with the U.S., their regional context, and vision of global order. It is not clear how American allies behave and whether they can work together to sustain the order.
　An international order can be shaped by many factors. Hegemon's own reluctance for ruling is surely significant. So is other great power's revisionism, making use of such strategic opportunities. However, American allies have the potential to shape the fate of the order: if they succeed in acting collectively, it shall underpin the global governance for a while, and ensue the order transformation process in rather slow and peaceful pace. If they fail, it shall not only accelerate the U.S. retrenchment, but invite an emergence of divisive and competitive order.
　Looking at our future relationship, policy and strategies toward the United States in regional and international order from mid-to-long term perspective, it is now more critical to understand about the perception and the way of management of other "recipients" of U.S.-based international order, who are U.S. Allies and partners.

Dr. Rohan MUKHERJEE ^■■■

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Yale-NUS College
 

Dr. Fumiaki NOZOE ^■■

Associate Professor, Department of Regional Administration, College of Law, Okinawa International University

Dr. M.L. Pinitbhand PARIBATRA ^■

Assistant Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University
 

Dr. Nobuhiko TAMAKI ^■■■

Project Researcher, Policy Alternatives Research Institute, University of Tokyo

Dr. Michito TSURUOKA ^■■

Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University