The Japanese Red Army in Lebanon: Solidarity, Militancy, and Transregional Connectivity (Claudia Derichs)

Claudia Derichs is the Principal Investigator of the research project on Japanese leftist political activism in support of the Palestianian struggle. The focus is on the collaboration between the Japanese Red Army (JRA; initially known as the Arab Red Army) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The JRA's activism commenced in the early 1970s and lasted for several decades, characterized by a number of militant acts including highjackings, bomb attacks, embassy occupations, and hostage taking. While the sources in Japanese and in European languages on the group's activism are well researched, the systematic identification and thorough investigation of sources in Arabic is still lacking. The project work is assisted by postdoc scholar Mezna Qato and PhD student Fatema Hubail, who are funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies respectively. A recent book publication of 2023 isTracing Japanese Leftist Political Activism (1957-2017), eds. K Coogan & C Derichs (Routledge). Forthcoming in collaboration with OIB and JACMES (Japan Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Beirut) are a book launch cum book talk, and other related events.   

Author: Claudia Derichs