Dr. Giulia Garbagni

Biography

Giulia Garbagni is an Early Career Research Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, specializing in international history with a focus on modern East Asia. Her current research examines the contested nature of political leadership and national purpose in Japan during the World War II era. Her first book project delves into the diplomatic history and executive power in Japan, told through the eyes of unlikely protagonists, including special envoys selected by prime ministers during pivotal decades including the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Garbagni's work draws on multilingual research conducted in archives across Japan, South Korea, and the UK, illuminating the efforts of Japanese conservative elites to establish a prime ministerial leadership role in policy-making and Japan's identity as a 'normal country' in postwar times. Her academic interests also extend to the legacies of the empire in postwar Japanese politics and diplomacy, as well as Japan's development cooperation programs and the dynamics of Cold War Asia.

Research Interests

Experience