Can Military Become an Accountable Humanitarian Actor?: Perception of Humanitarian Norms and Modus Operandi of the ROK Army and Japan Self Defense Force

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims to investigate the extent to which these military entities, the ROK Army (ROKA) and the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) perceive humanitarian norms and operational guidelines as accountable humanitarian actors.
 Originality: Given that the role of military in offshore humanitarian action has become both prominent and complex, understanding the sensitization of these organizations to key humanitarian principles is a critical facet of assessing their capacity to engage in relief operations in an ethical and legitimate manner.
 Methodology: The survey with structured questionnaires was administered to 104 officers from the ROKA and 101 veteran officers from the JSDF including focus group interviews. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to identify differences in perceptions between the two groups, utilizing SPSS 25 as the analytical tool.
 Result: Both the ROKA and the JSDF demonstrated a relatively high level of awareness and commitment to humanitarian principles, though variations in perception were observed. Notably, differences emerged in their perceptions of guidelines for the use of military assets in humanitarian operations, with the ROKA exhibiting a comparatively higher level of perception in certain areas. The JSDF, on the other hand, showed higher levels of perception regarding the impacts of complex humanitarian emergencies, particularly natural disasters.
 Conclusions and Implication: These findings underscore the need for tailored training of humanitarian action, and transparent communication and coordination strategies with civilian agencies to enhance their effectiveness in addressing humanitarian crises in fragile contexts.