Russo-Japanese Relations in the North Pacific: The Kuril Islands Dispute Final Paper

This study aims to provide a thorough survey of the pertinent developments that have contributed to the current state of the Russo-Japanese territorial dispute in the north Pacific. Because the contemporary state of affairs is based heavily on historical claims and interpretations of early treaties, it is necessary to understand how the Kuril Islands dispute progressed historically. This study begins by illustrating how relations between Japan and Russia first developed and what role the Kuril Islands played in this early relationship. Special attention is given to the two eighteenth century treaties (the Shimoda Pact and the Treaty of St. Petersburg) which are often cited as legal precedence in the debates surrounding the islands. The next section describes how World War II changed the course of the islands’ history. In this context, we also depict the role played by the United States and describe how military strategy and security considerations might have ultimately contributed to the post-war status quo. Additionally, we take a close look at the series of events up to and including Soviet annexation of the islands. The penultimate section analyses the post-war situation further and pays explicit heed to the 1955-56 negotiations in London, which saw both countries at the brink of a settlement. The final section summarizes the salient points on both sides of the argument, and in addition to discussing legal precedence and historical claims also attempts to evaluate what value the Kuril Islands might have in modern times. The end of the Cold War long over and the emergence of the Russian Federation has shifted the paradigm and has created hope for the proximate resolution of a decades old conflict.

Russo-Japanese Relations in the North Pacific: The Kuril Islands Dispute Final Paper