América Latina: ¿clase media de las naciones?

More realístk view along the line of regionalism eould be found in the idea of enlarging ASEAN to sueh an extent that Japan eouId be a member of this integrativeentity and pLay a significant part in developing a common market in this region. 6) Coalition of míddle powers There is an advoeacy among some segment of Japanese intellectuals that Japan come to an identification with the middle powers, such as Canada, Australia and Brazil, in order to perform an international role more actively. This last option Japanese external (ourse of action is worth more consipering in view of its meaning for the theme at this Conference. (4) JAPAN AS MIDDLE POWER In the present world of economic interdependence, there seems to be a number. of probIems which couId be more easily tackled through collaboration among the nations of middle power with less involve– ment of big powers which are more security_minded and stiU not free from the coId war syndrome. There may be a room for middle powers to play a role through theilr eoaIition for applying a brake on al'ms race going on among big powers. The activities of peace-keeping forees of the U. N. in the conflict area are certainly the basks appropriate for the middle powers t(. shoulder. The middle powers share their common destiny and inre_ rests in maintaining international peaee and in promoting internatio– naI cooperation. One couId find 2nother important task for the coalition of middIe powe~ to perfonn; namely, serving as a mediator in the arena of North-South conflict and even playing a role of go-between in ma– king for smooth development of dialogue between North and South. There are many other issues conceivable for the coaIition of middIe pOW8rs to serve the purpose oE maintaining intemationaI peace and of attaining social, economic development aH over the world. The national society in which the stratum of the middIe class is wide and solid, and it has a strong voke in directing a nationaI course, is healthy .and stable. 1 am convinced that this is the case with the international society, too. 61