The Case for Caroline Kennedy as Japan Ambassador

The case against the nomination is pretty straightforward. Japan is the world’s third-largest economy, an important U.S. ally that’s only getting more important as China continues rising and, most problematically, is seeing nationalism rise under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has advocated changing the U.S.-imposed constitution that officially enshrines Japanese pacifism and the very close relationship with Washington. Kennedy, though she is a Kennedy, has little diplomatic or governmental experience; in 2009, she aborted a short-lived and poorly received campaign for the U.S. Senate. But there is a case to be made on behalf of her appointment: that her family legacy in Japan is a bigger asset than many Americans might realize and that she can play an important role in guiding Japanese politics a bit closer to gender equality. To be clear, I’m not taking a position, but it’s worth revisiting the cases on Kennedy’s behalf, initially made when her possible nomination was first discussed this spring.