In recent years, the internal dynamics of liberal democratic states have been in turmoil. This working group will delve into the political and social disruptions of liberal democracies who support the so-called "liberal international order" with particular attention to U.S. politics and the American presidential election given its  significant implications for global politics. Analysis will extend to how the disruptions within liberal democracies affect alliance relations.

Advancements in information and communication technology (ICT), and the influence of the Internet, especially Social Network Services and video sites, are ever increasing. This task force will closely examine the “cognitive domain” with particular focus on  both ICT and artificial intelligence.

This working group will collect, compile, and publish historical materials while examining the state of postwar Japanese politics and diplomacy as a free and democratic nation. In particular, the group will focus on Japan's return to the international community in the 1950s, and analyze how Japan developed its political, diplomatic, and security policies.

To understand and think about the current state and future of liberal democracies, it is essential to analyze the circumstances in each country, as well as  its institutions and principles. The purpose of this working group is to empirically analyze democratic institutions from various perspectives. Through quantitative and comparative political analysis, this task force seeks to understand these states’ by examining the condition of their democratic systems.

As the competition and conflicts between liberal democracies and authoritarian states deepen, one of the key issues are democratic states that have illiberal elements. This working group will analyze the trends of these non-liberal democracies in the African, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian regions.

Currently, Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans are undergoing a major turning point due to external factors such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and internal developments such as transformations in their democratic regimes. This task force will closely monitor and study trends in the foreign policies and domestic regimes of the Central and Eastern European and Balkan countries.