Maiko Ichihara

Maiko Ichihara is one of Japan’s leading scholars on democracy, international relations and foreign policy.

As Associate Professor at Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of Law, Ichihara researches international relations, democracy support, Japanese foreign policy and global governance. Her work explores how states promote democratic norms, how authoritarian influence is evolving, and how emerging technologies are reshaping political freedoms.

Ichihara helps policymakers understand the democratic challenges posed by artificial intelligence, information warfare and strategic competition.

Beyond academia, Ichihara plays an active role in international democracy networks. She serves on the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy, the East Asia Democracy Forum and the Partnership for Democratic Governance (Japan). She also co-chairs the Democracy for the Future Project at the Japan Center for International Exchange. There, she helps shape international dialogue on democratic governance.

Ichihara challenges conventional thinking on democracy promotion. She argues that democracy should never become a geopolitical instrument. Instead, she believes its strength lies in strong institutions, active civic participation and shared democratic values. Her research also examines how authoritarian governments use artificial intelligence to expand surveillance, censorship and control over civil society.

Previously, Ichihara was a Visiting Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She holds a PhD in Political Science from George Washington University and a Master’s degree from Columbia University.

Ichihara is the author of Japan’s International Democracy Assistance as Soft Power. She has also contributed extensively to scholarship on democracy support, liberal internationalism and Japan’s role in the rules-based international order. Her work offers valuable insight into the future of democracy, international cooperation and the balance between security, technology and democratic values.