Dr. Aki Nakai is a Lecturer in the Department of Government at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, specializing in international relations, security studies, alliance politics, and East Asian politics. His research focuses on alliance formation and restructuring, Indo-Pacific security, Japanese foreign and security policy, U.S.-China relations, and resilience in international security.

He is completing his book manuscript, When and How States Restructure Alliances, which develops a framework for explaining why states restructure existing alliances in response to changing international and domestic conditions. His research also examines the origins and evolution of the U.S. alliance system in East Asia, the absence of a multilateral alliance in Northeast Asia, Japan’s approach to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and security and institutional resilience. His work has appeared in The National Interest, The Diplomat, and other academic and policy publications.

Dr. Nakai has taught at Boston University, Harvard University, Bowdoin College, Tufts University, and the U.S. Naval War College.

Education

• Ph.D., Boston University, Political Science (International Relations, Comparative Politics, and East Asian Politics)
• MALD, Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (International Security, and Pacific Asia Studies)
• BA, Waseda University, Japan, Political Science

Areas of Expertise

• International Relations
• International Security
• Alliance Politics
• East Asian and Indo-Pacific Security
• Japanese Foreign and Security Policy
• U.S.-China Relations
• Causes of War and Peace
• Comparative Politics

Research Interests

• Alliance Formation and Restructuring
• U.S. Alliances in East Asia
• Indo-Pacific Security Architecture
• Japan’s Foreign and Security Policy
• U.S.-Japan Relations
• U.S.-China Relations
• Deterrence and Extended Deterrence
• Maritime Security
• Cybersecurity
• Energy and Institutional Resilience

Courses Taught

• Global Challenges
• Causes of War
• U.S.-China Relations
• Maritime Politics and Policy of the Asia-Pacific Region
• Comparative Politics
• Political and Economic Development in East Asia

Selected Publications

• “Cyber, Energy, and Institutional Resilience: Exploring Security Frameworks, Challenges, and Solutions.” Politics, Economics, and Security: 4th Annual West Point Social Sciences Seminar: Special Report for the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2026), with Edward T. Canuel, J. Matthew Hurtt, et al.
• “Territorial Settlements: A Survey of Scholarly Literature and History.” PIFS Working Paper 2024-61 (2024), with William W. Grimes and Hal S. Scott.
• “Japan and Emerging Technologies: Why and How is Japan Responding to Artificial Intelligence?” Occasional Paper Series, Program on U.S.-Japan Relations, Harvard University (2023).
• “Japan Gears up for Electronic Warfare: Japan is Going Electromagnetic, with Implications for Japanese Security Policy and the U.S. Regional Strategy.” The Diplomat (2018).
• “How to Make Japan’s Military Great Again: Can the Self-Defense Forces’ (SDF) Force Level and Structure Sufficiently Cope with the Increased Defense Capability?” The National Interest (2018).

Selected Presentations

• “Adapting Alliances in a Changing Indo-Pacific: Regional Security and United States, Japan, and South Korea Cooperation.” Center for International Affairs and World Cultures, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 2026.
• “Energy Resilience in the Indo-Pacific and China Factor: The Case of Japan.” West Point International Security Research Seminar, U.S. Military Academy, 2025.
• “Why Is There No NATO in Northeast Asia?: The Origin of U.S. Alliances and Its Implications for Future Security Order in the Indo-Pacific.” Department of National Security and Strategy, U.S. Army War College, 2023.
• “Why Is There No NATO in Northeast Asia?: The Origin of the Hub-and-Spokes Alliance System and Its Implications for Contemporary Alliance Politics.” Department of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington, 2023.
• “Japan and Emerging Technologies: Why and How is Japan Responding to Artificial Intelligence?” Japan Political Studies Group, Association for Asian Studies, Boston, MA, 2023.
• “Japan and Artificial Intelligence.” Associates’ Panel, Security Threats and Alliance Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, Program on U.S.-Japan Relations, Harvard University, 2022.

Honors & Awards

• Visiting Scholarship, Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica (Taipei, Taiwan)
• Visiting Scholarship, Yuchengco Center, De La Salle University (Manila, Philippines)
• Young Scholars Research Grant, Japanese Society for Asian Studies, (Kyoto, Japan)
• Asiatic Research Institute Fellowship for Northeast Asian Studies, Korea University (Seoul, South Korea)

Professional Affiliations

• American Political Science Association