Japan's military policy, South Africa's ANC treasurer, Twitter Diplomacy, and Global Notes

The Japanese government has approved a reinterpretation of the Japanese constitution with regards to the use of military force. Under the new policy the Japanese would be allowed to defend friends and allies under attack. The article in question is Article 9 of the constitution, which was written in the early days of the U.S. occupation from 1945 to 1952. It says “Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of forces as a means of settling international disputes.” Daniel Aldrich, associate professor of political science at Purdue University and author of Site Fights: Divisive Facilities and Civil Society in Japan and the West, and Building Resilience, joins us to discuss what’s behind what many are calling the biggest shift in military policy since World War II.
Then, political scandal and economic dissatisfaction in South Africa have generated growing dissatisfaction with the president, Jacob Zuma, and his dominant African National Congress (ANC) party. Ongoing labor strikes have only added to the ANC's problems. Zweli Mkhize, treasurer-general of the ANC, has voiced criticism of his party’s leadership and many consider him to be a front-runner to eventually replace Zuma. Mkhize will sit down with us to discuss South Africa’s struggles and what he thinks can be done to change things.
And, twiplomacy is a global study of world leaders on Twitter. More than 83 percent of all United Nations (UN) governments have a presence on Twitter, and two-thirds (68 percent) of all heads of state and government have personal Twitter accounts. Tim Akimoff, WBEZ’s director of digital content, joins us to discuss how presidents and prime ministers are using social media.
Next, this week on Global Notes we bring you the sultry reggae-fied voice of British artist Hollie Cook with music from her new release Twice. Cook sang backup vocals for the briefly reformed British punk reggae band the Slits before striking out on her own. She hails from a bit of British musical royalty; her dad is Paul Cook, who played drums with the Sex Pistols, her mom Jeni was a backup singer for the Culture Club and her godfather is Boy George. Radio M and Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia shares songs from her latest album.

(photo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo Tuesday, July 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara))