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This course is designed to introduce students to the main theoretical and conceptual issues in the field of Comparative Politics. It offers students a broad view of the selected themes, concepts and approaches that characterize the field, as well as an appreciation of how the field has evolved over time.
Policy Management Studies is a "discipline of practical knowledge" that seeks to find solutions to the problems of society, in other words, policy issues, through practical initiatives.
This class will find "practical knowledge" in the "policy process". In this course, students will try to build a "policy casebook" that brings together various policy cases and knowledge related to the policy process, and create a new academic commons at SFC.
Every week different speakers come and talk about their own topics related to Japan.
First year students after finishing "Policy Management Studies" or "Environment and Information Studies" are welcomed.
See the Japanese version.
Chinese civilization thought has had a big influence on East Asia including Japan.
It is useful to get an overview of Chinese history and thought for doing East Asian area studies.
This course introduces Chinese history from Zhou Dynasty to Ming Dynasty and establishment and development of Confucianism to students taking this course.
In this course, I will lecture on Chinese history from ancient China to Ming Dynasty, and development of the history of Chinese thought (mainly of Confucianism).
Our lectures will mainly introduce modernistic studies on nationalism. Specifically our lectures consists of three parts: In the first part, we will review theoretical frameworks provided by Fichte, Rousseau, E.Gellner, A.D.Smith, B.Anderson and so on. In the second part, we will consider interactions between nationalism and other factors (ex. economy, history, geopolitics, religions etc.). In the third part, we will analyse Chinese nationalism as a study case.
Security is fundamental for every nation-state for its survival since ancient times. Today's security theory is required to construct a new concept for the 21st century against the background of the transition from the concept of national defense (Defense) to the multidimensional concept of security (Security). It is necessary to examine from various perspectives the implications for international security of increasingly complex post-Cold War regional conflicts, ethnic conflicts, civil wars among failed states, the rise of asymmetric actors after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the rise of emerging powers led by China (power shift), and the impact on the security of the emergence of new technologies. In this lecture, we will deepen our discussion from the following perspectives: 1) the concept of security and policy systems, 2) spectrum analysis of international conflicts, 3) case studies of symmetrical and asymmetrical conflicts, 4) security policies at various stages of prevention, restraint, deterrence, conflict intervention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, 5) regional security architecture in Europe and Asia. The discussion will be deepened from the following perspectives.
The course provides an overview of the field of sociology, a branch of social sciences. Sociology aims to offer a scientific description and theoretical understanding of societal structures comprising diverse groups of people, and the changes these structures undergo.
To cultivate and refine your sociological thinking skills, the course is divided into two halves. The first half of the semester is dedicated to explicating the distinct types of sociological questions, theories, and methodologies. The latter half introduces key sociological themes such as public opinion, networks, social stratification and mobility, modernization, and religion. To augment student learning, the course incorporates a blend of lectures, group work, and a final exam.
＊Please be aware that attendance is mandatory. Exceeding a certain number of absences, including for varsity sports, internship, job hunting, failure to submit assignments, or poor participation in group work, leads to automatic failure.
This course focuses on police, one of the main actors pursuing public safety. Crime situation, criminal justice system, and some crime theories will be mentioned alongside history and system of Japanese police. Some specific policies related to pubic safety will also be discussed. Several guest speakers will be invited to give lectures from a broader point of view, in order to deepen understanding of public safety policy (shakai-anzen-seisaku).
The international community is now at stake with serious challenges amidst historical changes in power balances and intensifying geopolitical competitions. Meanwhile, a host of issues such as climate change and infectious disease crises are emerging, requiring cross-border cooperation among nations. Today, we are in an era where confrontation and cooperation are intricately intertwined in international relations. We live in the world of a historical inflection point and in the face of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War Ⅱ. For this reason, Japan is about to undergo a major shift in its postwar security policy. (Excerpt from "National Security Strategy," National Security Council, Cabinet Decision, December 16, 2022.)
In this lecture, we will compare and analyze the defense policies adopted in Japan and other countries in the world, and examine the current situation in which the conventional operational domains limited to land, sea, and air are expanding into space and cyberspace, the environmental security that has been attracting attention as a result of global warming, the issue of the Arctic Ocean whose strategic value is increasing due to melting ice, or the impact of various technological developments on defense policy. We will examine the impact of various technological developments on defense policy, such as the Arctic Ocean, which is becoming more strategically valuable due to melting ice, and give a lecture on how defense policy should be formulated to maintain peace.
The purpose of this course is to create a “policy case”.
Through repeated discussions using the “policy case,” students will learn to identify and understand the key factors of various issues and acquire skills and techniques for analyzing them through evaluation of successful experiences in public policy decision-making, action plan formulation, policy formation, policy making, and policy implementation events. The program provides practical training in a variety of skills necessary for professionals in general policy (problem finding and problem solving), such as the following
The “policy case” describes the process of policy making on a specific policy issue (the part of the policy process from policy formation to policy decision-making, from “discovery of policy issue” to “policy formation,” “policy decision (selection),” “policy implementation,” and “policy evaluation”). Embedded in this “policy process” is the cutting-edge, specialized, and cross-disciplinary knowledge that moves people, organizations, and society, which is necessary to solve the problems of real society.
Based on the above recognition, this course is designed to create a new academic commons at SFC by creating a “policy casebook” that brings together knowledge related to “practical knowledge” (policy process) through the experience of “practical knowledge” (policy process).
China is increasingly aware of its new great power status and is pursuing diplomacy to create the environment necessary to sustain its economic growth and security.
This course will provide an understanding of China's domestic politics and diplomacy, which are strengthening its consciousness as a major power, to gain a perspective on China's future foreign behavior. Through this course, students will also gain an understanding of the current state of Japan-China relations and learn clues for the outlook of Japanese diplomacy.
This course is designed for undergraduate students as an introduction to the history of Chinese politics and society in the 19th and 20th century. It explores the following questions: What’s the relationship of the state and society? How did the forming of modern state change the society and how did the characteristics of society shape the ways of national construction?
Focusing on such questions, this course introduces the major 4 parts of modern and contemporary Chinese history(Imperial China, Republic of China, China in the Mao era, and China after Mao). For each part, the general trend of history, new research perspectives, and the latest research will be introduced.
Our lectures will mainly introduce modernistic studies on nationalism. Specifically our lectures consists of three parts: In the first part, we will review theoretical frameworks provided by Fichte, Rousseau, E.Gellner, A.D.Smith, B.Anderson and so on. In the second part, we will consider interactions between nationalism and other factors (ex. economy, history, geopolitics, religions etc.). In the third part, we will analyse Chinese nationalism as a study case.
This course focuses on police, one of the main actors pursuing public safety. Crime situation, criminal justice system, and some crime theories will be mentioned alongside history and system of Japanese police. Some specific policies related to pubic safety will also be discussed. Several guest speakers will be invited to give lectures from a broader point of view, in order to deepen understanding of public safety policy (shakai-anzen-seisaku).
This course is to learn "public safety policy," which is to study how to protect indivuduals and society from anti-social behaviors such as crimes.
Safety is indispensable for free democratic society, but it does not exist a priori in our society. Please understand that safety is barely maintained by many people's efforts.
It is too simple to discuss the policy based on whether it is good or bad, or whether it properly restrains the government. In addition to feasibility of the policy, you need to think about the balance between cost and benefit of the policy and the balance between policy effect and freedom constraint.
We will explore law and policy for safer society in this course.
We discuss intelligence communities. They provide products for decision-makers in diplomacy and national security. So-called spy activities are just a part of them. United State intelligence community faced failures in 9/11 attacks in 2001 and Iraqi War in 2003. Their reforms have been discussed for a long time, but they saw another failure in U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Intelligence activities are becoming increasingly important in Japanese diplomacy and national security.
International politics around Japan and in the world is changing. Especially in East Asia including the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, there are heightened tensions. Therefore, it is crucial to revise Japan's defense policies. National Defense Program Outline of the Japanese government was published in 1971 for the first time, and was not revised until 1995. However, after that, it was revised in 2004, 2009, 2013 and 2018. Intervals have become shorter. In this class we will compare and analyze defense policies of Japan and other countries, and review the change and the expansion of operational domains including land, sea, air, space and cyberspace. Non-traditional security issues in the environment, the Arctic Ocean and newly developed technologies are also considered. The goal of this class is to think of defense policies to achieve peace in international relations.
The goal of this class is to view problems surrounding contemporary Japan from various angles and to consider possible policy options and solutions. The class will focus "what is happening in Japan now" and acquire views form Japan to deepen our understanding of Japan. At the end of the semester, the participants will organize into groups and make presentations on Japan's policy issues.
This course is designed to introduce students to the main theoretical and conceptual issues in the field of Comparative Politics. It offers students a broad view of the selected themes, concepts and approaches that characterize the field, as well as an appreciation of how the field has evolved over time.
This course is designed for undergraduate students as an introduction to the history of Chinese politics and society in the 19th and 20th century. What’s the relationship of the state and society? How did the forming of modern state change the society and how did the characteristics of society shape the ways of national construction? Focusing on such questions, this course introduces the major 4 parts of modern and contemporary Chinese history(Imperial China, Republic of China, China in the Mao era, and China after Mao). For each part, the general trend of history, new research perspectives, and the latest research will be introduced.
The purpose of this course is to learn CIS region comprehensively. This course would be consisted by lecturers, group work and presentations, and individual term report.
"Regional study" is needed to deal with many aspects such as politics, economics, international relations, history, ethnicity, society, religion, conflicts, environmental problems, energy problems, etc. In particular, the former Soviet Union states are young and they have many problems to be solved, and such problems are complicated and to be needed the comprehensive knowledge and considering the international relations.
In order to think about the current world, it is essential to understand the former Soviet space. Therefore, we aim to deepen the understanding of the region.
In recent years, science and technology policy has come to be seen as an essential component of national security policy. This lecture will look at science and technology policy as a whole from the perspective of national security, and will cover various concepts for understanding technology policy. In the first half, we will organize various concepts necessary to understand science and technology policy, such as the relationship between national security and science and technology, science and technology, stages of maturity, and evaluation. In the second half, after learning the perspective of science and technology policy makers, we will consider the relationship between security and science and technology based on examples from Japan and other countries.
(This course will be offered in Japanese for the AY2023, and next time will be GIGA-English course. Read the Japanese version of the syllabus for detailed information.) This lecture will combine the teaching of Aynu language to gain basic communicative competence, which enables us to delve into the rich world of Aynu culture manifested in its oral literature, with reflection on socio-political issues surrounding Aynu peoples and Aynu language revitalization in contemporary Japanese society.
Cities have been the spaces where social changes have been most apparent throughout the history. This class focuses on the "urbanization" that began in the late 18th century and continued through the 20th century. By tracing the process of formation and development of the city from various aspects such as politics, economics, society and culture, we will be able to understand how the city was formed and consider the challenges facing the space of the city.
The class will be conducted in a lecture style, but students will analyze maps and historical materials, and will be asked to submit their opinions and impressions. It is desirable to be active in the class.
This course provides an introduction to learn how to prevent or mitigate natural disasters, especially those related to a large earthquake.
You will briefly learn the mechanism of hazards (earthquakes and tsunamis), and the disasters caused by those natural phenomena.
You will also see the limitations of disaster sciences or hardware preparedness such as sea walls, and so the importance of education and communication.
The goal of this course is to let you encourage your loved ones to prepare for earthquakes.
By the end of this course, you will properly present and explain what to do for disaster prevention, and let the fear and anxiety go away. You will also be able to give an advice to your friends on how to live and behave in an earthquake-prone country.